SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood has said that serious questions remain over the donation of over £400,000 to the DUP as part of the Brexit campaign.
Mr Eastwood called on the DUP to explain why the money was funnelled through their party and what the group’s agenda beyond Brexit is.
The Foyle Assembly candidate said: “Under pressure, the DUP has finally revealed that their Brexit benefactor is the little known Constitutional Research Council. But the admission raises serious questions about the group’s origin, makeup and agenda.
“The group’s chairman, Scottish Tory Richard Cook, is known to have links to the former head of the Saudi Intelligence Service and a range of other foreign business interests.
“This raises fundamental questions about where this money originated, who exactly provided it and what agenda they’re working to.
“Brexit is the biggest economic, social and constitutional threat to this island since partition. People here realised that and voted to remain in Europe.
“They deserve to know why this secretive organisation funnelled money through the DUP to fund campaign adverts outside of Northern Ireland.
“They deserve to know if political donation laws were exploited to keep the activity of the Constitutional Research Council secret.
“The collapse of the Executive underlines the urgent need for transparency in government here.
“The DUP must provide that transparency immediately,” added the SDLP leader.
