- The UK Electoral Commission announced that it is examining Momentum.
- The watchdog is investigating whether the pro-Corbyn group breached spending limits during the 2017 General Election campaign.
- Momentum spokesperson admits "administrative errors" were made.
- Momentum was set up in 2015 to support Corbyn as Labour leader.
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Pro-Corbyn group Momentum is being investigated over its election spending
The Electoral Commission is examining whether Momentum spent more than it was legally allowed during the general election campaign.
LONDON — Momentum, the group set up to support Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the Labour Party, is being investigated by the UK's Electoral Commission over its expenditure during the general election campaign.
The Commission announced on Thursday that it is examining whether the left-wing national campaign group breached election spending rules in the run-up to the June 8 general election.
Specifically, the watchdog will investigate whether Momentum overspent during the election campaign, and whether it the accounts for its payments and donations were either inaccurate or incomplete.
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A press release on the investigation published Thursday morning said the investigation will cover:
Momentum has admitted "administrative errors" were made over its election spending that can be "easily rectified."
In a statement, a spokesperson for the group said:
"Momentum put a lot of effort and resources into detailed budgeting and financial procedures during the election to ensure full compliance.
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"Our election campaign was delivered on a low budget because it tapped into the energy and enthusiasm of tens of thousands of volunteers across the country.
"Much of the Electoral Commission investigation refers to administrative errors that can be easily rectified. We have a good working relationship with the Electoral Commission, and will fully comply with the investigation going forward."
Momentum was founded in 2015 following Corbyn's shock victory in the leadership contest following the resignation of former Labour leader Ed Miliband.
The group says it has more than 30,000 paying members, divided into nearly 200 branches across the country. It says 1,500 more have joined since the Labour Party's annual conference in September.
Momentum played a major role in supporting Labour in the June 8 general election, especially online, where its social media posts reached millions of people.
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Bob Posner, the Electoral Commission’s Director of Political Finance and Regulation and Legal Counsel, said:
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