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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| I made a mistake, admits Osborne | I made a mistake, admits Osborne |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Shadow chancellor George Osborne has said he "made a mistake" in his handling of meetings in Corfu with a Russian billionaire. | Shadow chancellor George Osborne has said he "made a mistake" in his handling of meetings in Corfu with a Russian billionaire. |
| Mr Osborne has strongly denied allegations he tried to solicit a £50,000 donation for the Conservative Party from Oleg Deripaska. | Mr Osborne has strongly denied allegations he tried to solicit a £50,000 donation for the Conservative Party from Oleg Deripaska. |
| But he told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "It's not what you say or do but how it looks... | But he told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "It's not what you say or do but how it looks... |
| "To be honest this didn't look very good and that's something I regret." | "To be honest this didn't look very good and that's something I regret." |
| It is illegal for people not on the UK's electoral roll to make a donation to a UK political party. | It is illegal for people not on the UK's electoral roll to make a donation to a UK political party. |
| 'Didn't break rules' | |
| Financier Nathaniel Rothschild has claimed Mr Osborne tried to solicit £50,000 for the Tories from Mr Deripaska while on holiday in Corfu in August. | |
| Mr Osborne has always denied this. | Mr Osborne has always denied this. |
| In his first public comments for almost a week, he told the World at One: "I neither asked for money nor received any and I didn't break any rules but I think I did make a mistake." | In his first public comments for almost a week, he told the World at One: "I neither asked for money nor received any and I didn't break any rules but I think I did make a mistake." |
| During prime minister's questions last week, Gordon Brown said: "This is a very serious matter indeed and I hope it is investigated by the authorities." | |
| However, the Electoral Commission said it would not launch an inquiry, as "soliciting a donation is not an offence". | |
| Mr Osborne has since said he will no longer carry out fundraising duties for the Conservative Party. | |
| Tariffs | |
| Controversy has surrounded a party on board Mr Deripaska's yacht, which was attended by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson when he was still the European Trade Commissioner. | |
| Last week, the minister admitted first meeting the aluminium magnate in 2004 - two years earlier than officials had previously said. | |
| Lord Mandelson's relationship with Mr Deripaska has led some to suggest he could have intervened in EU policy on the Russian's behalf. | |
| In 2004, Lord Mandelson proposed that tariffs on aluminium imports be cut from 6% to 3%. | |
| But on Sunday he told Sky News: "A lot has been said about the relationship I have with one particular Russian businessman. | |
| "All I would say about that is that he has never asked for any favours, I have never given him any favours and that is what the European Commission in their examination of the issue has very firmly put on record." | |
| On Sunday, the Conservatives urged Lord Mandelson to "get things straight" over his dealings with Mr Deripaska. |