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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Potter author in £1m Labour gift | Potter author in £1m Labour gift |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Harry Potter author JK Rowling has donated £1m to the Labour Party, the party has announced. | Harry Potter author JK Rowling has donated £1m to the Labour Party, the party has announced. |
| Ms Rowling said she was motivated by Labour's record on child poverty and opposed a Conservative plan to give tax breaks to married couples. | Ms Rowling said she was motivated by Labour's record on child poverty and opposed a Conservative plan to give tax breaks to married couples. |
| Her donation will boost Gordon Brown as he tries to calm unrest among party members at Labour's annual conference. | Her donation will boost Gordon Brown as he tries to calm unrest among party members at Labour's annual conference. |
| The party has seen a surge in funding from private individuals, who donated a total of £3.8m between April and June. | The party has seen a surge in funding from private individuals, who donated a total of £3.8m between April and June. |
| Ms Rowling, whose fortune was estimated at £560 million in this year's Sunday Times Rich List, is known to be a personal friend of Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah. | Ms Rowling, whose fortune was estimated at £560 million in this year's Sunday Times Rich List, is known to be a personal friend of Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah. |
| Other high-profile donors to have contributed this year include comedian Eddie Izzard, who gave almost £10,000, and Steve Lazarides, graffiti artist Banksy's dealer, who gave £120,000. | Other high-profile donors to have contributed this year include comedian Eddie Izzard, who gave almost £10,000, and Steve Lazarides, graffiti artist Banksy's dealer, who gave £120,000. |
| The Labour government has reversed the long-term trend in child poverty, and is one of the leading EU countries in combating child poverty JK Rowling | The Labour government has reversed the long-term trend in child poverty, and is one of the leading EU countries in combating child poverty JK Rowling |
| A statement from Rowling, who wrote the first of her best-selling books about boy wizard Harry Potter while an impoverished single mother, pledged support for Mr Brown's long-running campaign against child-poverty. | A statement from Rowling, who wrote the first of her best-selling books about boy wizard Harry Potter while an impoverished single mother, pledged support for Mr Brown's long-running campaign against child-poverty. |
| She said: "I believe that poor and vulnerable families will fare much better under the Labour Party than they would under a Cameron-led Conservative Party. | She said: "I believe that poor and vulnerable families will fare much better under the Labour Party than they would under a Cameron-led Conservative Party. |
| "Gordon Brown has consistently prioritised and introduced measures that will save as many children as possible from a life lacking in opportunity or choice. | "Gordon Brown has consistently prioritised and introduced measures that will save as many children as possible from a life lacking in opportunity or choice. |
| "The Labour government has reversed the long-term trend in child poverty, and is one of the leading EU countries in combating child poverty. | "The Labour government has reversed the long-term trend in child poverty, and is one of the leading EU countries in combating child poverty. |
| "David Cameron's promise of tax perks for the married, on the other hand, is reminiscent of the Conservative government I experienced as a lone parent. | "David Cameron's promise of tax perks for the married, on the other hand, is reminiscent of the Conservative government I experienced as a lone parent. |
| "It sends the message that the Conservatives still believe a childless, dual-income, but married couple is more deserving of a financial pat on the head than those struggling, as I once was, to keep their families afloat in difficult times." | "It sends the message that the Conservatives still believe a childless, dual-income, but married couple is more deserving of a financial pat on the head than those struggling, as I once was, to keep their families afloat in difficult times." |
| Fairer and stronger | Fairer and stronger |
| It is the first time that the children's author has donated cash to the Labour Party, which currently has debts totalling around £18m. | |
| Labour Party general secretary Ray Collins said: "I would like to thank JK Rowling for making this generous donation and for helping us in our work to make Britain a fairer and stronger country. | Labour Party general secretary Ray Collins said: "I would like to thank JK Rowling for making this generous donation and for helping us in our work to make Britain a fairer and stronger country. |
| "We are grateful to everyone that contributes to the party and greatly appreciate this support." | "We are grateful to everyone that contributes to the party and greatly appreciate this support." |
| Much of Labour's £17.8m debt was amassed to fund the 2005 general election campaign, the most expensive in the party's history. | Much of Labour's £17.8m debt was amassed to fund the 2005 general election campaign, the most expensive in the party's history. |
| A source indicated that Rowling's money would not simply be swallowed up in debt repayments, but would allow the party to continue with its work. | A source indicated that Rowling's money would not simply be swallowed up in debt repayments, but would allow the party to continue with its work. |