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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Brexit campaigner Arron Banks criticised for his response to racism allegations | Brexit campaigner Arron Banks criticised for his response to racism allegations |
| (3 days later) | |
| The co-founder of one of the campaigns to leave the European Union has been criticised for describing alleged increases in hate crime after the Brexit vote as "media hysteria". | The co-founder of one of the campaigns to leave the European Union has been criticised for describing alleged increases in hate crime after the Brexit vote as "media hysteria". |
| Arron Banks, the businessman who spearheaded Leave.EU, has been denounced on social media by people who believe he was not taking reports of racism seriously. | Arron Banks, the businessman who spearheaded Leave.EU, has been denounced on social media by people who believe he was not taking reports of racism seriously. |
| Twitter users have called on Mr Banks to acknowledge the contribution of Polish people to the UK and asked him to condemn the suspected racist vandalism of a Polish cultural cente in west London on Sunday. | Twitter users have called on Mr Banks to acknowledge the contribution of Polish people to the UK and asked him to condemn the suspected racist vandalism of a Polish cultural cente in west London on Sunday. |
| Mr Banks had written: “What’s a [Polish Social and Cultural Centre] when it’s at home. Pack in the guardian connected outrage.” | Mr Banks had written: “What’s a [Polish Social and Cultural Centre] when it’s at home. Pack in the guardian connected outrage.” |
| On Sunday, the cultural centre was the target of what the Metropolitan Police has called "racially motivated criminal damage". | On Sunday, the cultural centre was the target of what the Metropolitan Police has called "racially motivated criminal damage". |
| Guardian journalist Shiv Malik asked Mr Banks: “Do you deplore the attack on the Polish Social and Cultural Association earlier today. Or does it please you?” | Guardian journalist Shiv Malik asked Mr Banks: “Do you deplore the attack on the Polish Social and Cultural Association earlier today. Or does it please you?” |
| Another Twitter user prompted Mr Banks: “Are you going to answer the question… Do you condemn it[?]” | Another Twitter user prompted Mr Banks: “Are you going to answer the question… Do you condemn it[?]” |
| Helen Grieve, whose profile says she is from Yorkshire, told the Leave campaigner he had forgotten about the contribution of Polish people to the Allied cause in World War Two: “Shame on you. I grew up with the grandchildren of brave Polish servicemen who fought for Britain in WWII.” | Helen Grieve, whose profile says she is from Yorkshire, told the Leave campaigner he had forgotten about the contribution of Polish people to the Allied cause in World War Two: “Shame on you. I grew up with the grandchildren of brave Polish servicemen who fought for Britain in WWII.” |
| In response to another accusation he was forgetting about the sacrifices of Polish soldiers, Mr Banks wrote that he had a Polish maths teacher once who used to be a Polish fighter pilot and was “a lovely chap”. | In response to another accusation he was forgetting about the sacrifices of Polish soldiers, Mr Banks wrote that he had a Polish maths teacher once who used to be a Polish fighter pilot and was “a lovely chap”. |
| Since the result of the vote to leave the EU was announced, there has been a surge in purported instances of racism and hate crime. Several of the alleged perpetrators have referenced the Brexit vote directly while carrying out the attacks. | Since the result of the vote to leave the EU was announced, there has been a surge in purported instances of racism and hate crime. Several of the alleged perpetrators have referenced the Brexit vote directly while carrying out the attacks. |
| Mr Banks has dismissed the alleged rise in race-related crime as simply “media hysteria” and “a whole load of rubbish”. | Mr Banks has dismissed the alleged rise in race-related crime as simply “media hysteria” and “a whole load of rubbish”. |
| The millionaire businessman is a former Tory donor, but he switched to funding Ukip in 2014. | The millionaire businessman is a former Tory donor, but he switched to funding Ukip in 2014. |
| He has been the source of controversy after he defended Leave.EU’s decision to poll people on whether the killing of MP Jo Cox would affect how they voted in the referendum. | He has been the source of controversy after he defended Leave.EU’s decision to poll people on whether the killing of MP Jo Cox would affect how they voted in the referendum. |
| The pro-Remain MP was shot following a meeting with her constituency in West Yorkshire. | The pro-Remain MP was shot following a meeting with her constituency in West Yorkshire. |
| The Independent contacted Leave.EU with the allegations Mr Banks is not taking racism allegations seriously, but the group declined to comment. | The Independent contacted Leave.EU with the allegations Mr Banks is not taking racism allegations seriously, but the group declined to comment. |