24/02/2017

DUP Reveals Brexit Campaign Donor

The DUP has revealed the mystery donor which gave £425,000 that helped fund the party's Brexit campaign.

DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the donor was the Constitutional Research Council - a pro-Union unionist organisation based in Great Britain.

Mr Donaldson said: "It has been involved in Scotland, for example supporting unionism in Scotland, and it approached the DUP to support our campaign during the referendum because it supports unionist causes in the United Kingdom."

The CRC is a group of pro-Union business figures chaired by former vice chairman of the Scottish Conservative Party Richard Cook.

The DUP used the donation to promote the party's Brexit campaign to Leave the EU, which included a four page advertisement in the Metro newspaper - not circulated in Northern Ireland.

The MP told Radio Ulster: "We wanted to be involved in the referendum at a national level. We recognise that the population of Northern Ireland is 3% of the United Kingdom.

"This referendum wasn't going to be won or lost in Northern Ireland, it was going to be won or lost on a national basis, and that's why the DUP, being a unionist party, decided to participate in the national campaign and we registered as such and, after we registered, we were able to raise this money and spend it all on campaigning both on a national level and indeed we spent some of it in Northern Ireland."

(CD)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

28 May 2021
UUP Door Is 'Open' To Disaffected DUP Members
New Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie said the door of his party was 'open' to any disaffected DUP councillors and members who may want to join.
16 November 2021
PSNI Student Officer Recruitment Campaign Remains Open For Applications
A PSNI Student Officer campaign remains open for applications until midday on Friday 19 November. Encouraging people to apply, Chief Operating Officer Pamela McCreedy said: "We launched our recruitment campaign a few weeks ago and have already received over 3,700 applications.
15 January 2014
Executive 'Committed' To Supporting People With Autism
Health Minister Edwin Poots has told the Assembly the Executive is committed to supporting people with autism. The Minister was speaking as he launched the cross departmental Autism Strategy (2013 – 2020) and Action Plan (2013 – 2016) on behalf of the Executive.
18 October 2012
Attorney General Calls For Abortion Inquiry
The Northern Ireland Attorney General has called for an investigation into the controversial new abortion clinic opening in Belfast this morning. John Larkin has demanded an inquiry into the Marie Stopes clinic which opened today and which has become the first ever private clinic in Northern Ireland to offer abortions.
27 January 2004
Age Positive campaign launched in Belfast
The Department of Enterprise, Trade & Investment have launched a new Age Positive Northern Ireland campaign, which is aiming to change attitudes by eradicating outdated stereotypes and encouraging employers to adopt good age practices in order to benefit both their businesses and individuals.