Major Brexit donor Arron Banks refuses to appear before MPs at fake news inquiry

Leave.EU funder claims cross-party MPs are 'conducting a co-ordinated 'witch hunt' of Leave groups'

Leave.EU funder Arron Banks is refusing to appear before a committee of MPs (Getty)

Leading Brexit campaigners have pulled out of a grilling by MPs after claiming they were being targeted in a "co-ordinated witch hunt" of Leave groups.

Arron Banks, a major funder of Leave.EU, and colleague Andy Wigmore had been due to appear before the influential Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee as part of its fake news inquiry, which is looking at the use of targeted online advertising.

However the pair dramatically pulled out of giving evidence on June 20 over their concerns and warned that the committee "comprises of only Remain supporting MPs".

It comes days after MPs backed a vote ordering Dominic Cummings, a director of rival Brexit group Vote Leave, to be summoned to parliament after he refused invitations to give evidence.

The row stems from the Facebook data scandal, where political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica was accused of misusing private information to target voters, and whether this could have had an impact during the EU referendum.

In a letter to chairman Damian Collins, Mr Banks alleged that the committee provided support to the Fair Vote Project, a campaign group that is pursuing legal action against Leave.EU in the US courts.

The millionaire businessman said: "We believe the actions of the committee amount to collusion with a pro-EU campaign group in order to create 'fake news'.

"I am sure you will appreciate the irony of the situation that a committee that is meant to be looking at the role of fake news on politics, is actively supporting the actions of such a partisan group."

Mr Banks said he would report the committee to the parliamentary authorities over its alleged collusion.

He added: "It is perfectly clear that the committee, which comprises only of Remain-supporting MPs, is conducting a co-ordinated 'witch hunt' of Leave groups, involving the Electoral Commission and the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office).

"You have called no witnesses from the Remain campaign or associated groups."

The Fair Vote Project claims that data was sent to the University of Mississippi and used in the Leave.EU referendum campaign.

It has launched legal action in the US state and is seeking an injunction to prevent the university from destroying any data it holds.

Mr Banks said Fair Vote activists used testimony from witnesses to the committee's inquiry as evidence in the court case, which is due to conclude on June 12.

Kyle Taylor, director of The Fair Vote Project, said: “The Fair Vote Project has been committed to transparency since its inception and we are simply seeking the truth, as is the ICO and the DCMS select committee.

"The Court in Mississippi, the DCMS committee, the ICO and the Electoral Commission are all seeking answers to legitimate questions. We believe Banks and Wigmore can provide them."