As voters head to the polls today in a historic referendum on whether or not to remain in the EU, the spotlight has turned to the financial cost of the campaign.
In the ten weeks leading up to today's vote, the Electoral Commission's campaign finance regulations have limited the two official sides, Vote Leave and Britain Stronger In Europe, to a spending total of £7m, while the spending limit for other registered campaigners (excluding political parties) has been set at £700,000.
However, this does not include donations from "permissible donors", which include individuals on the UK electoral register and UK-registered companies says the BBC.
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Using official figures from the Electoral Commission, The Guardian estimates that the combined total given to both sides is around £28m, with Leave receiving £4m more than Remain, primarily from Tory donors.
Politico says "more than £6.4m in donations was given to other registered campaign groups, which must disclose any donation or loan worth more than £7,500".
Leave finances have come under intense scrutiny in the final days of the campaign after it was revealed that a former BNP member had donated £600,000.
Away from the campaigns, the total cost of conducting the referendum – which includes "the expenses incurred by counting officers in running the poll, the delivery by Royal Mail of campaign mailings and the cost of the central count" – has been estimated at £142.4m by the Cabinet Office.
A final report on donations received in the last weeks before the poll will be released after the votes are counted.
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