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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Osborne denies Russian cash claim | Osborne denies Russian cash claim |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Shadow chancellor George Osborne has denied claims he tried to solicit a £50,000 donation for the Tories from Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska. | Shadow chancellor George Osborne has denied claims he tried to solicit a £50,000 donation for the Tories from Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska. |
| Financier Nathaniel Rothschild told The Times that Mr Osborne and Tory chief executive Andrew Feldman had discussed a donation from Mr Deripaska. | Financier Nathaniel Rothschild told The Times that Mr Osborne and Tory chief executive Andrew Feldman had discussed a donation from Mr Deripaska. |
| Mr Rothschild said they had boarded the Russian businessman's yacht off Corfu in the summer "to solicit a donation". | Mr Rothschild said they had boarded the Russian businessman's yacht off Corfu in the summer "to solicit a donation". |
| But Mr Osborne said: "We didn't ask for money; we didn't receive any." | But Mr Osborne said: "We didn't ask for money; we didn't receive any." |
| 'Rigorous' | 'Rigorous' |
| Under electoral law, overseas residents cannot make donations to UK political parties. | Under electoral law, overseas residents cannot make donations to UK political parties. |
| In his letter to The Times, Mr Rothschild alleges that Mr Feldman suggested that Mr Deripaska might channel the money to the Tories via one of his British firms. | In his letter to The Times, Mr Rothschild alleges that Mr Feldman suggested that Mr Deripaska might channel the money to the Tories via one of his British firms. |
| This raises real questions about the Conservatives' judgement in pursuing allegations about Mandelson's dealing with a man who they themselves had discussed money with Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read Nick's blog in fullRead Robert Peston's blog class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7682201.stm">Main figures in the row | |
| He added that the businessman had declined to make any donation. | He added that the businessman had declined to make any donation. |
| In a statement to reporters outside Conservative campaign headquarters in Millbank, central London, Mr Osborne said: "People make suggestion all the time about donations to the Conservative Party, but we are always clear and rigorous [in assessing these]." | In a statement to reporters outside Conservative campaign headquarters in Millbank, central London, Mr Osborne said: "People make suggestion all the time about donations to the Conservative Party, but we are always clear and rigorous [in assessing these]." |
| He added that he had met Mr Deripaska on two occasions and that "on both occasions we didn't ask for money". | He added that he had met Mr Deripaska on two occasions and that "on both occasions we didn't ask for money". |
| Mr Osborne, who said he had been with Lord Mandelson during one of the visits to the yacht, also promised to publish a full chronology, detailing the times and lengths of the meetings. | Mr Osborne, who said he had been with Lord Mandelson during one of the visits to the yacht, also promised to publish a full chronology, detailing the times and lengths of the meetings. |
| He added: "I certainly regret all the fuss and the misunderstanding that has come out of the trip to Corfu." | He added: "I certainly regret all the fuss and the misunderstanding that has come out of the trip to Corfu." |
| George Osborne and Lord Mandelson both visited Oleg Deripaska's yacht | George Osborne and Lord Mandelson both visited Oleg Deripaska's yacht |
| Earlier the Conservatives had issued a statement saying that "the allegations made in Mr Rothschild's letter to the Times are completely untrue. | Earlier the Conservatives had issued a statement saying that "the allegations made in Mr Rothschild's letter to the Times are completely untrue. |
| "Both Andrew Feldman and George Osborne deny absolutely that they attempted to solicit a donation from Oleg Deripaska. | "Both Andrew Feldman and George Osborne deny absolutely that they attempted to solicit a donation from Oleg Deripaska. |
| "Nor did they suggest a method by which he could conceal a donation via a British company. | "Nor did they suggest a method by which he could conceal a donation via a British company. |
| "They spent a short period of time on Mr Deripaska's boat at the invitation of Mr Rothschild. | "They spent a short period of time on Mr Deripaska's boat at the invitation of Mr Rothschild. |
| "Donations to the Conservative Party were not discussed with Mr Deripaska. | "Donations to the Conservative Party were not discussed with Mr Deripaska. |
| "In a conversation on September 18, Mr Rothschild suggested to Andrew Feldman that Mr Deripaska wanted to make a donation to the party through one of his British companies." | "In a conversation on September 18, Mr Rothschild suggested to Andrew Feldman that Mr Deripaska wanted to make a donation to the party through one of his British companies." |
| 'Well-heeled' | 'Well-heeled' |
| The statement added: "The offer was not taken up. For clarity - the Conservative Party has neither sought or received any donations from Mr Deripaska nor any of his companies." | The statement added: "The offer was not taken up. For clarity - the Conservative Party has neither sought or received any donations from Mr Deripaska nor any of his companies." |
| BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson has learnt that the subject of a donation from Mr Deripaska was raised during a discussion Mr Osborne had with Mr Rothschild at his villa before the shadow chancellor visited the billionaire on his yacht. | BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson has learnt that the subject of a donation from Mr Deripaska was raised during a discussion Mr Osborne had with Mr Rothschild at his villa before the shadow chancellor visited the billionaire on his yacht. |
| Perhaps in future it would be better if all involved accepted the age-old adage that private parties are just that." Nathanial Rothschild's letter Profile: Oleg Deripaska | Perhaps in future it would be better if all involved accepted the age-old adage that private parties are just that." Nathanial Rothschild's letter Profile: Oleg Deripaska |
| The new business secretary - a European Commissioner at the time - Lord Mandelson, also spent time on Mr Deripaska's yacht, Queen K, when it was docked by the Greek island of Corfu in the summer. | The new business secretary - a European Commissioner at the time - Lord Mandelson, also spent time on Mr Deripaska's yacht, Queen K, when it was docked by the Greek island of Corfu in the summer. |
| In his letter to The Times, Mr Rothschild says he is writing in because of that newspaper's "obsession with Mr Mandelson". | In his letter to The Times, Mr Rothschild says he is writing in because of that newspaper's "obsession with Mr Mandelson". |
| He added: "I also think it ill behoves all political parties to try and make capital at the expense of another in such circumstances. | He added: "I also think it ill behoves all political parties to try and make capital at the expense of another in such circumstances. |
| "Perhaps in future it would be better if all involved accepted the age-old adage that private parties are just that." | "Perhaps in future it would be better if all involved accepted the age-old adage that private parties are just that." |