Woman behind Corbyn crowdfunder admits £370,000 raised can’t be banked

The Jeremy Corbyn supporter who set up a crowdfunding campaign to help support the ex Labour leader has revealed she has been unable to bank over £370,000 that has been raised.

Carole Morgan set up the Jeremy’s Legal Fund page on the GoFundMe website last July after after the BBC journalist John Ware said he was considering suing the former Labour leader for libel in relation to comments he made about the party’s decision to settle a case over a Panorama expose of antisemitism.

To date the fundraising appeal on behalf over Corbyn has received £370, 590 in donations.

But now, in a message posted to those who have pledged money Morgan gas said: “It’s been quite some time since I’ve been able to update you all on what is happening with Jeremy’s Legal Fund.

“I can only apologise for this, and I hope that when I explain what’s been happening, you will understand the reasons for this.

“As you know from my previous updates, JBC Defence Ltd has spent months attempting to open a bank account to receive your donations. Unfortunately we have been unsuccessful for two reasons.

“The first is that many banks are not taking new applications for business current accounts.

“The second reason is that where we were able to submit applications to a small number of UK banks, all of these were declined without any reason given.

“GoFundMe has agreed in principle for the money to be transferred directly to Jeremy as the legal beneficiary of the fund, to be used for the express purpose of his legal defence against any libel claim brought by John Ware.”

Morgan then alerted donors to a second legal challenge facing Corbyn, from the pro-Israel campaigner Richard Millett.

She writes:”I would very much like Jeremy to have the option to use some of the funds we have raised to help with any costs in relation to this case as well, should he need it.

In the event that these legal threats go away at some stage in the future, Jeremy has indicated that he would like to have the option to donate any surplus funds from this campaign to War on Want, a registered charity that fights against the root causes of poverty and human rights violations, as part of the worldwide movement for global justice.

“If you do not wish for your donations to be used for either of the above, please be assured that you can request a refund of your donation over the next two weeks by contacting GoFundMe’s team.”

Morgan then thanked those who had supported the former Labour leader describing him as” a man of humility, integrity and honesty and in my view one of the greatest politicians of our age.”