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No charges over Labour donations No charges over Labour donations
(30 minutes later)
The Crown Prosecution Service has said there is "insufficient evidence" for any charges in connection with David Abrahams' donations to Labour.The Crown Prosecution Service has said there is "insufficient evidence" for any charges in connection with David Abrahams' donations to Labour.
Three former Labour Party officials - Lord Triesman, Matthew Carter and Peter Watt - had been considered in relation to possible charges.Three former Labour Party officials - Lord Triesman, Matthew Carter and Peter Watt - had been considered in relation to possible charges.
But the CPS said it had told all those involved there would be no charges over the incorrectly declared donations.But the CPS said it had told all those involved there would be no charges over the incorrectly declared donations.
At issue were donations of £600,000 by Mr Abrahams made through other people.At issue were donations of £600,000 by Mr Abrahams made through other people.
All those involved had denied any wrong-doing after the donations came to light in 2007.All those involved had denied any wrong-doing after the donations came to light in 2007.
Mr Abrahams, a Newcastle-based property developer, had said he had given the money using the names of associates, including his secretary and a builder, because of a desire for privacy. Mr Abrahams, a property developer from the North-East of England, had said he had given the money using the names of associates, including his secretary and a builder, because of a desire for privacy.
Under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 ('PPERA'), people donating more than £5,000 must do so in their own names. After a police investigation the CPS were asked to consider possible charges. 'Reasonable steps'
Lord Triesman, Mr Carter and Mr Watt were at various times registered treasurers of the Labour Party. The revelation created an outcry that led to the resignation of Peter Watt, then general secretary of the Labour Party, when it emerged he knew of the arrangement.
Stephen O'Doherty, reviewing lawyer from the CPS Special Crime Division, said in a statement there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction. Scotland Yard was called in by the Electoral Commission in November 2007 and handed over its files to the Crown Prosecution Service last June.
The Electoral Commission said: "The law requires that political parties and politicians report the source of donations to ensure transparency and integrity in party funding. This is vital to public confidence in the democratic process. The Labour Party has always taken the view that we should be beyond reproach with regard to accepting and reporting donations Labour Party statement class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/8037901.stm">In full: Donation statements
"In this case, following discussion with the Metropolitan Police Service and the CPS, we referred the matter to the police because there was evidence that an offence may have been committed. The police decided to conduct an investigation, and passed the evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service. Under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 ('PPERA'), people donating more than £5,000 must do so in their own names.
"The CPS has concluded that the donation reports in question incorrectly identified the donor but there is insufficient evidence to charge anyone with any offences. Lord Triesman, Mr Carter and Mr Watt were at various times registered treasurers of the Labour Party and therefore responsible for taking reasonable steps to check the identity of donors.
"The decision on whether or not to bring a prosecution is a matter for the CPS." The "primary evidence" for a prosecution was the Labour Party finance reports signed by the three men which falsely identified the donors as someone other than Mr Abrahams, the CPS said.
But "inconsistencies" in the evidence against the men meant it would not have been possible to prove they knew where the money came from.
Repayment
The evidence file was first passed to the CPS in June last year, but police were then asked to carry out additional inquiries.
In a statement, Stephen O'Doherty, reviewing lawyer from the CPS Special Crime Division, said: "After taking advice from counsel and discussing the difficulties with the police I concluded that there was not a realistic prospect of securing a conviction."
The Electoral Commission said the CPS had found the donations register had been incorrectly completed but could not collate enough evidence to charge anybody.
"The decision on whether or not to bring a prosecution is a matter for the CPS," it added.
The Labour Party said it was still making arrangements for the repayment of the Abrahams donations.
"The Labour Party has always taken the view that we should be beyond reproach with regard to accepting and reporting donations and we are the party that has reformed the area of political donations to increase transparency and accountability.
"The Labour Party notes that this matter has been concluded and that it has been made clear that no one sought to break any rules."
The party said it had "put aside the donations in question in 2007 and will now seek advice about the best way to repay these donations".
"There has already been an internal inquiry and the comprehensive corporate governance procedures that have been recommended have been put in place," it added.