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The Tories spent £7.5million more than Labour in their disastrous general election campaign, it emerged today.

Theresa May's party spent £18.6million - 69% more than Jeremy Corbyn's total of £11million - in a splurge that ultimately lost her 13 seats.

Eye-watering Tory expenses included more than £2million on Facebook and more than £4million on Aussie election guru Lynton Crosby's firm.

The Electoral Commission revealed the figures today as it launched a swathe of investigations into the main political parties.

Anti-Brexit group Best for Britain is under investigation for not returning £25,000 from an "impermissible donor" within 30 days, the watchdog said.

(Image: WPA Pool)

Labour, the Greens and Tories are all under investigation for submitting "potentially inaccurate statements" and spending returns that were missing invoices.

The Tories and Lib Dems are also under investigation for making multiple payments to suppliers where either the claim for payment was received past the 30 day deadline, or it was paid after the 60 day deadline following the election.

"These deadlines are specified in law," the watchdog said.

The Women’s Equality Party is under investigation for submitting a spending return that was "inconsistent with its donation reports covering the same period."

And the National Union for Teachers is under investigation over a missing invoice.

Theresa May called last June's snap election while she was enjoying a poll lead of more than 20 points.

(Image: Getty)

But the Conservatives went from 331 seats to 318 after a campaign focused on Mrs May's personality was consumed by controversy over the 'dementia tax'.

Meanwhile thousands of people attended Labour rallies as the party's leaked manifesto promised mass nationalisation and free tuition for students.

The figures cover parties that spent £250,000 during the "regulated period" of a year from June 2016 to polling day in 2017.

Electoral Commission legal chief Bob Posner said: “It is vital that voters are given an opportunity to see accurate and full reportable data on what parties and campaigners spent money on in order to influence them at last year’s general election.

"This provides transparency in the political finance system and is open for anyone to scrutinise.

“We are investigating possible breaches of the rules. However, our on-going discussions with the major parties indicate to us that they may wish to consider the robustness of their internal governance and level of resourcing to ensure they can deliver what the law requires.”

Full spending by each party

Conservative and Unionist Party (GB) - £18,565,102

Labour Party - £11,003,980

Liberal Democrats - £6,788,316

Scottish National Party (SNP) - £1,623,127

Green Party - £299,352

Women’s Equality Party - £285,662

UK Independent Party (UKIP) - £273,104