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| Blair gives cash to Labour Party | Blair gives cash to Labour Party |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Tony Blair has joined the ranks of wealthy Labour donors, Electoral Commission figures show. | Tony Blair has joined the ranks of wealthy Labour donors, Electoral Commission figures show. |
| The former PM, who has earned up to £12m since leaving No 10, gave £7,500 to the party in September this year. | |
| His ex-ministers David Blunkett and Stephen Byers also donated cash in the same three-month period. | |
| Labour received more than £5m in private donations over the period, outstripping the Conservatives, who received £4,060,633. | Labour received more than £5m in private donations over the period, outstripping the Conservatives, who received £4,060,633. |
| This breaks a run of 10 quarters when the Conservatives have beaten Labour in the funding stakes. | This breaks a run of 10 quarters when the Conservatives have beaten Labour in the funding stakes. |
| Labour also converted £2.25m loans into gifts - £2m from former science minister Lord Sainsbury and £250,000 from businessman Sir Gulam Noon, helping it to escape the financial crisis it was facing. | Labour also converted £2.25m loans into gifts - £2m from former science minister Lord Sainsbury and £250,000 from businessman Sir Gulam Noon, helping it to escape the financial crisis it was facing. |
| The figures also included the £1m donated to the party by author JK Rowling. | The figures also included the £1m donated to the party by author JK Rowling. |
| Trade union support | Trade union support |
| The Liberal Democrats received just under £600,000 in private donations over three months - among them £10,495 each from Sir Elton John and David Furnish. And the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust announced it would provide a grant of up to £1.3m over the next 18 months. | The Liberal Democrats received just under £600,000 in private donations over three months - among them £10,495 each from Sir Elton John and David Furnish. And the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust announced it would provide a grant of up to £1.3m over the next 18 months. |
| The final months of Tony Blair's premiership saw a police investigation into allegations Labour donors had been offered honours in return for cash, although all concerned denied wrongdoing and no charges were brought. | The final months of Tony Blair's premiership saw a police investigation into allegations Labour donors had been offered honours in return for cash, although all concerned denied wrongdoing and no charges were brought. |
| The ex-PM is estimated to have earned about £12m since quitting as PM, from public speaking engagements, a £4.6m book deal and about £2.5m for advising two banks. | The ex-PM is estimated to have earned about £12m since quitting as PM, from public speaking engagements, a £4.6m book deal and about £2.5m for advising two banks. |
| As our recent accounts show, much has already been done to improve the Labour Party's finances. We will continue working to ensure the party's financial position remains sustainable Ray Collins,br>Labour general secretary | As our recent accounts show, much has already been done to improve the Labour Party's finances. We will continue working to ensure the party's financial position remains sustainable Ray Collins,br>Labour general secretary |
| He made his donation to Labour ahead of the party's conference in Manchester, which saw Gordon Brown launch a political fight back after months of dismal poll ratings and leadership rumblings. | He made his donation to Labour ahead of the party's conference in Manchester, which saw Gordon Brown launch a political fight back after months of dismal poll ratings and leadership rumblings. |
| Mr Blair's one-time spin doctor Alastair Campbell also gave a total of £12,500 in the three month period and some of Mr Blair's closest political allies from his time at Number 10 also poured cash into the party coffers. | Mr Blair's one-time spin doctor Alastair Campbell also gave a total of £12,500 in the three month period and some of Mr Blair's closest political allies from his time at Number 10 also poured cash into the party coffers. |
| Former Home Secretary David Blunkett gave £5,000 and ex-Transport Secretary Stephen Byers gave £2,000. | Former Home Secretary David Blunkett gave £5,000 and ex-Transport Secretary Stephen Byers gave £2,000. |
| Other Labour figures to donate cash to the party in the three month period include former Paymaster General Geoffrey Robinson and culture minister Barbara Follett. | Other Labour figures to donate cash to the party in the three month period include former Paymaster General Geoffrey Robinson and culture minister Barbara Follett. |
| Wider base | Wider base |
| Celebrities included on the register of donors include Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, a longstanding Labour donor, who gave £7,500 and Nancy Dell'Ollio, former partner of ex-England manager Sven Goran Ericksson, who donated £15,000. | Celebrities included on the register of donors include Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, a longstanding Labour donor, who gave £7,500 and Nancy Dell'Ollio, former partner of ex-England manager Sven Goran Ericksson, who donated £15,000. |
| Among unions, Unison gave two large donations of £735,000 and £362,625 in the period covered, in addition to smaller gifts and Unite donated £303,352. | Among unions, Unison gave two large donations of £735,000 and £362,625 in the period covered, in addition to smaller gifts and Unite donated £303,352. |
| Apart from Lord Sainsbury and Sir Gulam, property developer Sir David Garrard has agreed to convert some £300,000 of his £2.3 million loan to a donation. The remainder will be interest-free until July 2010, and then charged at 6.5% while new repayment terms have also been negotiated on millions of pounds of other loans. | Apart from Lord Sainsbury and Sir Gulam, property developer Sir David Garrard has agreed to convert some £300,000 of his £2.3 million loan to a donation. The remainder will be interest-free until July 2010, and then charged at 6.5% while new repayment terms have also been negotiated on millions of pounds of other loans. |
| Labour Party general secretary Ray Collins said the agreements reached were "a major step forward in our plans to put the Labour Party's finances on a stable long-term footing". | Labour Party general secretary Ray Collins said the agreements reached were "a major step forward in our plans to put the Labour Party's finances on a stable long-term footing". |
| "As our recent accounts show, much has already been done to improve the Labour Party's finances. We will continue working to ensure the party's financial position remains sustainable." | "As our recent accounts show, much has already been done to improve the Labour Party's finances. We will continue working to ensure the party's financial position remains sustainable." |
| Meanwhile the Conservatives received significant gifts of £100,000 from Michael Clare, founder of retail chain Dreams, £54,000 from spread betting mogul Stuart Wheeler and £96,000 from businesswoman Holly Bellingham. | Meanwhile the Conservatives received significant gifts of £100,000 from Michael Clare, founder of retail chain Dreams, £54,000 from spread betting mogul Stuart Wheeler and £96,000 from businesswoman Holly Bellingham. |
| A spokesman for the Conservatives said: "The vast bulk of Labour's donations have come from just eight rich individuals. By contrast the Conservative Party has widened its donor base with donations from 260 individuals and companies." | A spokesman for the Conservatives said: "The vast bulk of Labour's donations have come from just eight rich individuals. By contrast the Conservative Party has widened its donor base with donations from 260 individuals and companies." |