Sainsbury gives Labour £500,000

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7784356.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Supermarket billionaire and former science minister Lord Sainsbury has donated £500,000 to Labour.

The party said the money would be used entirely for candidates campaigning for the next general election, rather than servicing its debt.

The donation comes after Lord Sainsbury recently converted £2m in loans to Labour into a gift.

The party was £15.8m in debt when it last updated the Electoral Commission in November.

Lord Sainsbury, who left the government in November 2006, said he had been impressed by the work of Labour's general secretary, Ray Collins.

He said: "I am giving to the party today, confident that my donation will be used where it counts, supporting the Labour Party's campaigns."

Mr Collins said: "The Labour Party's supporters and donors are its life-blood, and we are very grateful for Lord Sainsbury's continued support."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown does not need to go to the country until 2010, but there is speculation that he may call an election in the spring of next year.