Chief of failed Remain campaign was handed a gong in David Cameron’s pal-packed exit honours list despite being under police investigation for fraud
Will Straw, the son of Labour ex-Cabinet minister Jack, accepted a CBE despite probe into alleged electoral fraud
THE CHIEF of the failed pro-EU Remain campaign was given a gong in David Cameron’s pal-packed exit honours list despite being under an active police investigation for fraud, The Sun can reveal.
Will Straw, the son of Labour ex-Cabinet minister Jack, accepted a CBE from the former PM for his work heading the Remain campaign.
However cops are currently probing his election expenses after a doomed 2015 bid to become the Labour MP for the Rossendale and Darwen seat.
It comes as it emerged three South Yorkshire Labour MPs are also being investigated over their spending in the 2015 General Election.
The Rother Valley MP Sir Kevin Barron, Rotherham’s Sarah Champion and Wentworth and Dearne MP John Healey all deny breaking strict spending rules.
Our revelation heaps further shame on the ex-PM’s controversial resignation awards, slammed for discrediting the ancient honours system by dishing out gongs to donor and cronies.
Tonight Tory MP Andrew Bridgen hit out: “This is another nail in the coffin of a discredited honours list that rewarded Remain failure.”
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He demanded the Cabinet Office “immediately explain how their due diligence allowed someone under investigation for fraud to receive a coveted award, while still being probed by the police.”
Mr Straw lost his two year fight to become the MP for the marginal Lancashire — beaten by a 5,654 majority by Tory Jake Berry.
Following allegations that Mr Straw had not declared campaign spending on a Labour Party bus that visited his seat, he was reported to the police by a concerned constituent.
This evening Lancashire Police confirmed Mr Straw was under an active investigation and the force has applied to prosecutors for a 12 month extension under electoral law in order to probe him further.
Mr Straw denied his election expenses were incorrect and the Cabinet Office said: “This is a matter for Lancashire Police.”