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| Tories top party donations total | Tories top party donations total |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Conservative fundraising has continued to outpace that of Labour, with the Tories receiving more than £4m in donations in 2009's first quarter. | Conservative fundraising has continued to outpace that of Labour, with the Tories receiving more than £4m in donations in 2009's first quarter. |
| But the £2.8m donated to Labour was up slightly on the previous three months, according to the Electoral Commission. | But the £2.8m donated to Labour was up slightly on the previous three months, according to the Electoral Commission. |
| In the same period, the Liberal Democrats took donations of £826,751. | In the same period, the Liberal Democrats took donations of £826,751. |
| Donations to all parties in the three-month period were up slightly at £9.1m. The period covered pre-dates the controversy over MPs' expenses. | Donations to all parties in the three-month period were up slightly at £9.1m. The period covered pre-dates the controversy over MPs' expenses. |
| 'Carrying out checks' | |
| All parties now have more than £20m in loans to pay off, the report said. | All parties now have more than £20m in loans to pay off, the report said. |
| Meanwhile, five political parties received £2.1m in public funds, according to the Commission. | Meanwhile, five political parties received £2.1m in public funds, according to the Commission. |
| It added that Labour was one of several parties which faced investigation for failing to report donations on time. | It added that Labour was one of several parties which faced investigation for failing to report donations on time. |
| Two donations to Labour's national HQ, worth £502,250 in total, were reported in the first quarter of 2009 when they should have been declared to the Commission earlier. | |
| Jenny Watson, the Electoral Commission's chair, said it was "unacceptable" that donations continued to be reported late. | Jenny Watson, the Electoral Commission's chair, said it was "unacceptable" that donations continued to be reported late. |
| "We have informed all the parties who reported donations late to us that we will be carrying out checks to assess the systems that they have in place," she added. | "We have informed all the parties who reported donations late to us that we will be carrying out checks to assess the systems that they have in place," she added. |
| The report said the British National Party had returned five donations worth a total of £4,100 as they were from sources which were non-permissible. | |
| The Conservatives' biggest donation was £1.1m from Stanley Fink, the City executive brought in earlier this year to lead the party's fundraising. | |
| Labour's largest sum was £762,404.80 from the trade union Usdaw. | |
| During 2008, the Conservatives were given donations of about £19m compared to Labour's £17m. | During 2008, the Conservatives were given donations of about £19m compared to Labour's £17m. |