Vote Leave fined £40,000 for sending unlawful messages
The official Brexit campaign group had previously been found to have broken electoral law
![Vote Leave sign](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sRwTidrpntd6kxDyaybvaW-415-80.jpg)
Vote Leave has been fined £40,000 for sending out thousands of unsolicited text messages in the run-up to the 2016 EU referendum.
An investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) found no evidence that the recipients of the messages had given their consent - a key requirement of electronic marketing law.
“Political campaigns and parties, like any other organisations, have to comply with the law,” ICO director of investigations, Steve Eckersley, said in a statement after the fine was handed down yesterday.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Vote Leave, the official Brexit campaign group fronted by Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, said it was given permission to contact the recipients, but the evidence was deleted.
“Both during and after the referendum, Vote Leave complied with both the letter and spirit of the law,” a spokesperson said.
Jolyon Maugham QC, a barrister who leads the anti-Brexit Good Law Project, said the ICO’s findings were evidence of “yet more law breaking” by Vote Leave.
“How much more is still to emerge? What a sewer that referendum was!” he tweeted.
Last year, Vote Leave was fined £61,000 and referred to the police after an investigation by the Electoral Commission found it broke electoral law during the referendum campaign.
It was accused of exceeding its £7m spending limit by funnelling £675,315 through pro-Brexit group BeLeave. Vote Leave dismissed the allegations as inaccurate and politically motivated.
In October, Open Democracy revealed that the Metropolitan Police stalled the launch of any criminal investigations into Vote Leave and other pro-Brexit groups, citing “political sensitivities”.
At the time, Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson said breaking the law during “one of the most critical moments in the UK’s history” made it of “urgent national interest that the police investigate what happened, how it happened and who was responsible.”
He added: “It is disappointing that no progress appears to have been made into these investigations.”
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
7 dreamy products to help you sleep better on vacation
The Week Recommends Don't snooze on these sleep aids
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Did Kamala Harris kill brat?
Talking Point Pop culture phenomenon co-opted by presidential candidate sparks claims brat is over
By Jamie Timson, The Week UK Published
-
Paris Olympics: will it be a success?
Today's Big Question Organisers hope the 'spectacle' of the 2024 Games will lift the cloud of negativity that has hung over the build-up
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Britain's Labour Party wins in a landslide
Speed Read The Conservatives were unseated after 14 years of rule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Will voter apathy and low turnout blight the election?
Today's Big Question Belief that result is 'foregone conclusion', or that politicians can't be trusted, could exacerbate long-term turnout decline
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Stormont power-sharing in sight: 'good news' for Northern Ireland?
Talking Point Unionists vote to end two-year boycott after agreeing legislative package to address post-Brexit trading arrangements
By The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published