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Spotlight on Osborne in donor row New donor questions for Osborne
(about 2 hours later)
The shadow chancellor is likely to face more questions over claims he tried to solicit a £50,000 donation for the Tories from a Russian billionaire.The shadow chancellor is likely to face more questions over claims he tried to solicit a £50,000 donation for the Tories from a Russian billionaire.
Financier Nathaniel Rothschild insists George Osborne did discuss a donation from Oleg Deripaska in front of a witness at his Corfu home in August.Financier Nathaniel Rothschild insists George Osborne did discuss a donation from Oleg Deripaska in front of a witness at his Corfu home in August.
He also says Mr Osborne asked about ways to get round the ban on overseas residents donating to UK parties.He also says Mr Osborne asked about ways to get round the ban on overseas residents donating to UK parties.
Mr Osborne has denied these claims and has been backed by David Cameron.Mr Osborne has denied these claims and has been backed by David Cameron.
The Tory leader said the shadow chancellor had shown the "right judgement" by not asking for or taking any money.The Tory leader said the shadow chancellor had shown the "right judgement" by not asking for or taking any money.
But Labour MP and chairman of the Public Administration Select Committee Tony Wright said Mr Osborne had actually made a "fundamental misjudgement".But Labour MP and chairman of the Public Administration Select Committee Tony Wright said Mr Osborne had actually made a "fundamental misjudgement".
"The simple fact is once the issue of donations arose in the context of a foreign billionaire, George Osborne should have run a mile and not sought to get closer," he said.
YachtYacht
"The simple fact is once the issue of donations arose in the context of a foreign billionaire, George Osborne should have run a mile and not sought to get closer," he said.
People make suggestions all the time about donations to the Conservative Party George Osborne, Shadow chancellor Read Nick's blog in fullRead Robert Peston's blogWho's who in the row
Mr Rothschild has said he will not "back down" and is prepared to defend his claims in court.Mr Rothschild has said he will not "back down" and is prepared to defend his claims in court.
He alleged he had discussed the idea of a donation via Mr Deripaska's UK firm, Leyland DAF, three times on 24 August - with Mr Osborne and Tory fundraiser Andrew Feldman. He alleged he had discussed the idea of a donation via Mr Deripaska's UK firm, LDV Ltd, three times on 24 August - with Mr Osborne and Tory fundraiser Andrew Feldman.
He said the first discussion, held in his Corfu home, was witnessed by a New York fund manager, James Goodwin.He said the first discussion, held in his Corfu home, was witnessed by a New York fund manager, James Goodwin.
People make suggestions all the time about donations to the Conservative Party George Osborne, Shadow chancellor Read Nick's blog in fullRead Robert Peston's blogWho's who in the row
He said Mr Goodwin also "recalled" that the subject of a donation "arose briefly" later when the men were guests on Mr Deripaska's yacht but the "conversation gained no traction".He said Mr Goodwin also "recalled" that the subject of a donation "arose briefly" later when the men were guests on Mr Deripaska's yacht but the "conversation gained no traction".
Mr Rothschild said the subject was raised again with Mr Osborne later that evening, in which he said the shadow chancellor was "interested in whether and how such a donation could be secured".Mr Rothschild said the subject was raised again with Mr Osborne later that evening, in which he said the shadow chancellor was "interested in whether and how such a donation could be secured".
'More questions'
Furthermore, he added that during a conversation with Mr Feldman in the middle of September, he was "left with the impression that the Conservative Party remained interested in pursuing it".Furthermore, he added that during a conversation with Mr Feldman in the middle of September, he was "left with the impression that the Conservative Party remained interested in pursuing it".
On Tuesday, Mr Osborne denied asking for any money, but did not rule out having discussed a donation.On Tuesday, Mr Osborne denied asking for any money, but did not rule out having discussed a donation.
He said: "People make suggestions all the time about donations to the Conservative Party, but we are always clear and rigorous [in assessing these]."He said: "People make suggestions all the time about donations to the Conservative Party, but we are always clear and rigorous [in assessing these]."
The Conservatives say the possibility of a donation was raised by Mr Rothschild, but any suggestion that money could be routed through Leyland DAF was rejected. The Conservatives say the possibility of a donation was raised by Mr Rothschild, but any suggestion that money could be routed through LDV Ltd was rejected.
The Lib Dems said a "lot more questions" had to be answered about the affair and called for a parliamentary inquiry.The Lib Dems said a "lot more questions" had to be answered about the affair and called for a parliamentary inquiry.
Former Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Sir Alistair Graham, says facilitating a donation from someone who is not allowed to give money to a political party could be an offence.
But he said the chances of Mr Osborne facing criminal charges are very slim.
Sir Alistair said that under the 2000 Political Parties Act, "the term used is facilitation".
"If you're facilitating, you're setting in train, then potentially it could be a criminal offence.
"But of course no donation was received and of course there is this conflict of evidence between Nat Rothschild on the one hand and what George Osborne is saying on the other."