Photo: Screengrab via Leave.EU/Twitter
Arron Banks
Credentials
- An in-depth profile of Banks at The New Statesman noted that in his early life he went to a โthird-rateโ boarding school, Crookham Court in Berkshire, where he was expelled for an โaccumulation of offences.โ He was later expelled again for a โmonumental pub crawl,โ and said that his lack of โeducational attainmentโ ruled out university. โSo he returned to Basingstoke, where he sold paintings, then vacuum cleaners, then houses.’โI was quite good at persuading people to buy things they didnโt want to buy,’ he says.โ1 โArron Banks: the man who bought Brexit,โ NewStatesman, October 13, 2016. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/9iv4z
Background
Arron F. Banks is a businessman famous for being one of the main funders of the UKโs Brexit campaign. He was a co-founder and donor for the Leave.EU group, headed by Nigel Farage, that campaigned for the UK to leave the European Union.2 Peter Walker and Jim Waterson. โArron Banks faces criminal inquiry over Brexit campaign,โ The Guardian, November 1, 2018. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/z2ywh 3 โArron Banks: This unnatural disaster was made in Brussels thanks to EU flooding policies,โ The Yorkshire Post, January 3, 2016. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/PH4Ca 4 Sandra Laville. โArron Banks: self-styled bad boy and bankroller of Brexit,โ The Guardian, June 10, 2018. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/cbEwl
Banks has donated millions to both the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the Conservative party, and sits within a transatlantic network of influential individuals spreading climate disinformation in the UK and US.5 โEx-Tory donor Arron Banks gives ยฃ1m to UKIP,โ BBC News, October 1, 2014. Archived November 28, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/8oEuU 6 Nicholas Watt. โFormer Tory donor raises Ukip donation to ยฃ1m over Hague comments,โ The Guardian, October 1, 2014. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/vK1Bm 7 Kyla Mandel. โMapped: New Special Relationship for America and Britain Emerges with Climate Science Deniers Linked to Trump and Brexit,โ DeSmog, January 16, 2017.
The Guardian reported in 2018 that the National Crime Agency would investigate multiple allegations of criminal offense by Banks and his unofficial leave campaign in Brexit. A statement by the Electoral Commission noted that there were grounds to suspect Banks was โnot the true sourceโ of ยฃ8m in funding to the Leave.EU campaign.8 Peter Walker and Jim Waterson. โArron Banks faces criminal inquiry over Brexit campaign,โ The Guardian, November 1, 2018. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/z2ywh
Stance on Climate Change
March 19, 2017
In a tweet, Banks wrote:9 โGlobal climate change represents the biggest transfer of wealth from poor to rich ever via inflated energy costs,โ Tweet by user @Arron_banks, March 19, 2017. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
โGlobal climate change represents the biggest transfer of wealth from poor to rich ever via inflated energy costsโ.
January 2016
Regarding flooding in the UK Banks said:10 โArron Banks: This unnatural disaster was made in Brussels thanks to EU flooding policies,โ The Yorkshire Post, January 3, 2016. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/PH4Ca
โThe politicians swanking around the disaster zones in hard hats and hi-viz jackets are pointing the finger at climate change โ a convenient bogeyman in this situation, but in truthโจ this is an unnatural disaster which was made to order in Brussels.โ
Key Quotes
June 2016
On the Brexit campaign:11 Robert Booth, Alan Travis, and Amelia Gentleman. โLeave donor plans new party to replace Ukip โ possibly without Farage in charge,โ The Guardian, June 29, 2016. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/aKX10
โIt was taking an American-style media approach. What they said early on was โfacts donโt workโ and thatโs it. The remain campaign featured fact, fact, fact, fact. It just doesnโt work. You have got to connect with people emotionally. Itโs the Trump success.โ
Key Actions
May 27, 2021
Arron Banks sued Her Majestyโs Revenue and Customs (HMRC), claiming that a six-figure inheritance tax bill on his donations to UKIP was discriminatory at the Court of Appeal, The New European reported.12 Adrian Zorzut. โBrexit-backing millionaire Arron Banks sues HMRC over ‘discriminatory’ tax on political donations,โ The New European, May 27, 2021. Archived June 1, 2021. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/G3bQU
On October 6, 2021, the Evening Standard reported that Banks had lost the appeal.13Jess Glass. “Brexit-backing millionaire Arron Banks loses court fight over Ukip donations tax bill,” Evening Standard, October 6, 2021. Archived October 10, 2021. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/zhyPK/
May 16, 2019
A Channel 4 News investigation revealed that Banks, had spent approximately ยฃ450,000 funding a lavish lifestyle for Nigel Farage in the year following the 2016 EU referendum.14 โNigel Farageโs funding secrets revealed,โ Channel 4 News, May 16, 2019. Archived June 20, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/3MJBa
June 2018
Leaked emails showed that Banks met with the Russian ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko three times in the run up to the EU referendum.15 Richard Kerbaj, Caroline Wheeler, Tim Shipman, and Tom Harper. โExclusive: Emails reveal Russian links of millionaire Brexit backer Arron Banks,โ The Times, June 9, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/Ournz
Documents obtained by The Sunday Times also revealed Banks held multiple meetings with Russian officials and flew out to Moscow in February 2016 to meet key financiers and partners behind a gold mine project. MPs called for the police and parliament to launch an investigation. Banks had previously said that his contacts with Russian officials consisted of โone boozy lunchโ at the Russian embassy.16 Richard Kerbaj, Caroline Wheeler, Tim Shipman, and Tom Harper. โExclusive: Emails reveal Russian links of millionaire Brexit backer Arron Banks,โ The Times, June 9, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/Ournz
After appearing in-front of a parliamentary committee to defend against allegations of collusion with Russia, Banks and former Leave.EU spokesperson Andy Wigmore were photographed with members of the Democratic Unionist Party, including infamous climate science denier Sammy Wilson.17 โSomebody needs to turn the DUP off then turn it on again,โ Twitter post by user @newtonEmerson, June 12, 2018. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
June 28, 2018
The UK Charity commission found that a charity set up by Banks โrisked misleadingโ the public about donations and other information in its annual accounts. BBC News reported that the Charity Commission had found some funds connected to the charity, โLove Saves The Day,โ were not โproperly accounted forโ although there had not been a misuse of funds. Banks said claims he was personally at fault were โutter rubbish.โ18 โArron Banks: Watchdog criticises charity set up by Leave.EU donor,โ BBC News, June 28, 2018. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/Mmjna
January 2017
Banks launched the Breitbart-inspired far-right website Westmonster, which is sponsored by Banksโ insurance company Go Skippy.19 Kyla Mandel. โBrexit-Backer and Trump Ally Arron Banks Brings Breitbart, Drudge Report-Inspired News Site to the UK,โ DeSmog, January 19, 2017. 20 โGo Skippy founder Banks to bankroll UKIP,โ Insurance Age, October 1, 2014. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/AuHQ4
November 2016
Banks is pictured alongside Nigel Farage and then president-elect Donald Trump in an infamous photo taken at Trump Towers.21 Maya Oppenheim. โWho’s in Nigel Farage’s gold Brexit gang photo with Donald Trump?โ The Independent, November 14, 2016. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/c3IIs
July 2016
Following the successful vote for the UK to leave the EU in June 2016, Banks announced support for Andrea Leadsom in the Conservative party leadership race to replace David Cameron. Leadsom was a Vote Leave campaign committee member and has ties to a network of groups spreading climate disinformation based out of 55 Tufton Street.22 Kyla Mandel. โTory Leadership Race: The UKIP-ers and Climate Deniers Backing Gove and Leadsom,โ DeSmog, July 5, 2016.
May 2016
Banks attended an event at Cato Institute thinktank in the US, which is known for spreading climate disinformation, reportedly saying there would be economic pain in the event of the UK leaving the EU, but that it was a price worth paying for independence.23 Kyla Mandel. โThe Koch and Exxon Funded Think Tanks Supporting, and Being Courted by, Britainโs Brexit Campaigners,โ DeSmog, July 19, 2016.
He also met with representatives of the Atlantic Council, American Foreign Policy Council and the Heritage Foundation, along with the US Treasury Department and the Department of State on the same trip.24 Kyla Mandel. โThe Koch and Exxon Funded Think Tanks Supporting, and Being Courted by, Britainโs Brexit Campaigners,โ DeSmog, July 19, 2016.
Affiliations
- Leave.EU Campaign โ Co-Founder.25 โArron Banks: This unnatural disaster was made in Brussels thanks to EU flooding policies,โ The Yorkshire Post, January 3, 2016. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/PH4Ca
- UK Independence Party (UKIP) โ Donor and former member. Banks claimed his membership was suspended in March 2017, while UKIP said his membership lapsed โearlier in the year.โ26 Laura Hughes. โArron Banks says he will set up ‘Ukip 2.0’ after party ‘suspends’ major donor’s membership,โ The Telegraph, March 14, 2017. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/7x18u
- Westmonster โ Launched by Banks.27 Kyla Mandel. โBrexit-Backer and Trump Ally Arron Banks Brings Breitbart, Drudge Report-Inspired News Site to the UK,โ DeSmog, January 19, 2017.
Other Affiliations
As noted at openDemocracyUK, Banks is tied to a number of companies registered to an address at Lysander House, Catbrain Lane in Bristol. Below is apartial listing of Banks’ affilations listed via public UK Companies House business filings, including but not limited to the Lysander House address:28 Peter Geoghegan and Adam Ramsay. โWho’s paying for these ‘reports’ on BBC Brexit coverage?โ openDemocracyUK, October 23, 2017. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/YVqTP 29 โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- Go Skippy โ Founder.30 โGo Skippy founder Banks to bankroll UKIP,โ Insurance Age, October 1, 2014. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/AuHQ4
- Better for the Country Limited โ Director appointed January 29, 2016.31 โBETTER FOR THE COUNTRY LIMITED: Company number 09609018,โ Companies House UK. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/fk3tF
- The Blue Wave Movement โ Director.32 โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- Parsons Jewelers โ Director.33 โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- Vavista Awards โ Director.34 โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- Rock E-Systems Limited โ Former director (now dissolved).35 โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- Rock Services โ Director.36 โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- Old Down โ Director.37 โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- Precision Risk Services โ Director.38 โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- Blue Steel Enterprise โ Former director (now dissolved).39 โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- Rock Services โ Director.40 โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- E Development (2) โ Director.41 โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- Oakwell Capital โ Former director (resigned).42 โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- Precision Risk and Intelligence โ Former director (resigned).43 โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- Group Legal โ Former director (now dissolved).44 โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- Eldon Insurance Services โ Former director (resigned).45 โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- Newlaw Legal โ Former director (resigned).46 โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- Brightside Group โ Former director (resigned).47 โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- Kyneton Management Co. โ Former director (resigned).48 โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
Social Media
Publications
- โArron Banks: This unnatural disaster was made in Brussels thanks to EU flooding policies,โ The Yorkshire Post, January 3, 2016.
Other Resources
- โArron Banks,โ Wikipedia.
- Robin de Peyer. โWho is Arron Banks? A profile of the ‘bad boy of Brexit’ at the centre of Russia claims,โ Evening Standard, June 11, 2018.
Resources
- 1โArron Banks: the man who bought Brexit,โ NewStatesman, October 13, 2016. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/9iv4z
- 2Peter Walker and Jim Waterson. โArron Banks faces criminal inquiry over Brexit campaign,โ The Guardian, November 1, 2018. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/z2ywh
- 3โArron Banks: This unnatural disaster was made in Brussels thanks to EU flooding policies,โ The Yorkshire Post, January 3, 2016. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/PH4Ca
- 4Sandra Laville. โArron Banks: self-styled bad boy and bankroller of Brexit,โ The Guardian, June 10, 2018. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/cbEwl
- 5โEx-Tory donor Arron Banks gives ยฃ1m to UKIP,โ BBC News, October 1, 2014. Archived November 28, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/8oEuU
- 6Nicholas Watt. โFormer Tory donor raises Ukip donation to ยฃ1m over Hague comments,โ The Guardian, October 1, 2014. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/vK1Bm
- 7Kyla Mandel. โMapped: New Special Relationship for America and Britain Emerges with Climate Science Deniers Linked to Trump and Brexit,โ DeSmog, January 16, 2017.
- 8Peter Walker and Jim Waterson. โArron Banks faces criminal inquiry over Brexit campaign,โ The Guardian, November 1, 2018. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/z2ywh
- 9โGlobal climate change represents the biggest transfer of wealth from poor to rich ever via inflated energy costs,โ Tweet by user @Arron_banks, March 19, 2017. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
- 10โArron Banks: This unnatural disaster was made in Brussels thanks to EU flooding policies,โ The Yorkshire Post, January 3, 2016. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/PH4Ca
- 11Robert Booth, Alan Travis, and Amelia Gentleman. โLeave donor plans new party to replace Ukip โ possibly without Farage in charge,โ The Guardian, June 29, 2016. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/aKX10
- 12Adrian Zorzut. โBrexit-backing millionaire Arron Banks sues HMRC over ‘discriminatory’ tax on political donations,โ The New European, May 27, 2021. Archived June 1, 2021. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/G3bQU
- 13Jess Glass. “Brexit-backing millionaire Arron Banks loses court fight over Ukip donations tax bill,” Evening Standard, October 6, 2021. Archived October 10, 2021. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/zhyPK/
- 14โNigel Farageโs funding secrets revealed,โ Channel 4 News, May 16, 2019. Archived June 20, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/3MJBa
- 15Richard Kerbaj, Caroline Wheeler, Tim Shipman, and Tom Harper. โExclusive: Emails reveal Russian links of millionaire Brexit backer Arron Banks,โ The Times, June 9, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/Ournz
- 16Richard Kerbaj, Caroline Wheeler, Tim Shipman, and Tom Harper. โExclusive: Emails reveal Russian links of millionaire Brexit backer Arron Banks,โ The Times, June 9, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/Ournz
- 17โSomebody needs to turn the DUP off then turn it on again,โ Twitter post by user @newtonEmerson, June 12, 2018. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
- 18โArron Banks: Watchdog criticises charity set up by Leave.EU donor,โ BBC News, June 28, 2018. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/Mmjna
- 19Kyla Mandel. โBrexit-Backer and Trump Ally Arron Banks Brings Breitbart, Drudge Report-Inspired News Site to the UK,โ DeSmog, January 19, 2017.
- 20โGo Skippy founder Banks to bankroll UKIP,โ Insurance Age, October 1, 2014. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/AuHQ4
- 21Maya Oppenheim. โWho’s in Nigel Farage’s gold Brexit gang photo with Donald Trump?โ The Independent, November 14, 2016. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/c3IIs
- 22Kyla Mandel. โTory Leadership Race: The UKIP-ers and Climate Deniers Backing Gove and Leadsom,โ DeSmog, July 5, 2016.
- 23Kyla Mandel. โThe Koch and Exxon Funded Think Tanks Supporting, and Being Courted by, Britainโs Brexit Campaigners,โ DeSmog, July 19, 2016.
- 24Kyla Mandel. โThe Koch and Exxon Funded Think Tanks Supporting, and Being Courted by, Britainโs Brexit Campaigners,โ DeSmog, July 19, 2016.
- 25โArron Banks: This unnatural disaster was made in Brussels thanks to EU flooding policies,โ The Yorkshire Post, January 3, 2016. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/PH4Ca
- 26Laura Hughes. โArron Banks says he will set up ‘Ukip 2.0’ after party ‘suspends’ major donor’s membership,โ The Telegraph, March 14, 2017. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/7x18u
- 27Kyla Mandel. โBrexit-Backer and Trump Ally Arron Banks Brings Breitbart, Drudge Report-Inspired News Site to the UK,โ DeSmog, January 19, 2017.
- 28Peter Geoghegan and Adam Ramsay. โWho’s paying for these ‘reports’ on BBC Brexit coverage?โ openDemocracyUK, October 23, 2017. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/YVqTP
- 29โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- 30โGo Skippy founder Banks to bankroll UKIP,โ Insurance Age, October 1, 2014. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/AuHQ4
- 31โBETTER FOR THE COUNTRY LIMITED: Company number 09609018,โ Companies House UK. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/fk3tF
- 32โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- 33โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- 34โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- 35โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- 36โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- 37โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- 38โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- 39โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- 40โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- 41โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- 42โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- 43โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- 44โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- 45โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- 46โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- 47โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP
- 48โArron Fraser Andrew BANKS,โ Companies House. Archived November 30, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/KVCSP