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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Ex-Tory donor to be Brown adviser | Ex-Tory donor to be Brown adviser |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Swedish businessman who lent £2.6m to the Conservatives is to leave the party to become an adviser to Gordon Brown. | A Swedish businessman who lent £2.6m to the Conservatives is to leave the party to become an adviser to Gordon Brown. |
| Johan Eliasch had resigned from his post as Tory deputy treasurer but the party had said he remained a supporter. | Johan Eliasch had resigned from his post as Tory deputy treasurer but the party had said he remained a supporter. |
| On Friday he confirmed that he had accepted the prime minister's invitation to conduct a review on deforestation and green energy. | On Friday he confirmed that he had accepted the prime minister's invitation to conduct a review on deforestation and green energy. |
| Two Tory MPs agreed earlier this week to advise Mr Brown, who says he wants a new, inclusive, type of politics. | Two Tory MPs agreed earlier this week to advise Mr Brown, who says he wants a new, inclusive, type of politics. |
| Mr Eliasch, who spent £8m to preserve 400,000 acres of Amazon rainforest, will not renew his party membership when it lapses next month. | Mr Eliasch, who spent £8m to preserve 400,000 acres of Amazon rainforest, will not renew his party membership when it lapses next month. |
| 'Not party political' | 'Not party political' |
| He said in a statement: "There is a universal agreement that climate change must be addressed so this is not a political party issue and therefore I shall not be a member of any political party during this important work. | He said in a statement: "There is a universal agreement that climate change must be addressed so this is not a political party issue and therefore I shall not be a member of any political party during this important work. |
| "I look forward to a very challenging task and hope to make a real difference to both UK domestic policy and global policy." | "I look forward to a very challenging task and hope to make a real difference to both UK domestic policy and global policy." |
| Johan Eliasch made clear at the weekend he would stand down as a deputy treasurer to focus on green issues Conservative Party spokesman | Johan Eliasch made clear at the weekend he would stand down as a deputy treasurer to focus on green issues Conservative Party spokesman |
| Earlier this week, Shadow Chancellor George Osborne said Mr Eliasch was a "committed Conservative" and had resigned to spend more time concentrating on combating climate change. | Earlier this week, Shadow Chancellor George Osborne said Mr Eliasch was a "committed Conservative" and had resigned to spend more time concentrating on combating climate change. |
| On Friday a Conservative Party spokesman claimed the announcement had been made on Monday. | On Friday a Conservative Party spokesman claimed the announcement had been made on Monday. |
| He said: "Johan Eliasch made clear at the weekend he would stand down as a deputy treasurer to focus on green issues. | He said: "Johan Eliasch made clear at the weekend he would stand down as a deputy treasurer to focus on green issues. |
| He added: "He has since decided not to renew his membership of the party." | He added: "He has since decided not to renew his membership of the party." |
| 'All talents' | 'All talents' |
| BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said Mr Eliasch's move would cause a headache for Conservative leader David Cameron, both in terms of repaying his loan and because he had complained privately that he felt Mr Cameron had abandoned his commitment to occupy the political centre ground. | BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said Mr Eliasch's move would cause a headache for Conservative leader David Cameron, both in terms of repaying his loan and because he had complained privately that he felt Mr Cameron had abandoned his commitment to occupy the political centre ground. |
| Team Brown want this to be seen as an indictment of David Cameron BBC political editor Nick Robinson class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2007/09/a_welcome_hand.html">Read Nick's thoughts in full Mr Cameron has said there will be no "lurch to the right" and has dismissed critics of his reforms within his own party as "blasts from the past". | |
| Since he became prime minister in June, Mr Brown has said he wants a government of "all talents" which is "built on consensus" - and as a result has offered several posts to members of opposition parties. | Since he became prime minister in June, Mr Brown has said he wants a government of "all talents" which is "built on consensus" - and as a result has offered several posts to members of opposition parties. |
| 'Genuine attempt' | 'Genuine attempt' |
| Earlier this week two Tory MPs, John Bercow and Patrick Mercer, and Lib Dem MP Matthew Taylor agreed to advise the prime minister on their various areas of expertise. | Earlier this week two Tory MPs, John Bercow and Patrick Mercer, and Lib Dem MP Matthew Taylor agreed to advise the prime minister on their various areas of expertise. |
| Mr Brown said it was a break from "the shallowness of an old-style politics". Tory chairman Caroline Spelman welcomed the appointments, as long as they were "a genuine attempt to involve talented people from other political parties". | Mr Brown said it was a break from "the shallowness of an old-style politics". Tory chairman Caroline Spelman welcomed the appointments, as long as they were "a genuine attempt to involve talented people from other political parties". |
| Mr Eliasch was one of four major donors to the Conservatives questioned by police investigating "cash for peerages" claims. | Mr Eliasch was one of four major donors to the Conservatives questioned by police investigating "cash for peerages" claims. |
| A former chairman of the Young Conservatives, his wealth comes from Head, the Dutch sports equipment company, which he runs from London. | A former chairman of the Young Conservatives, his wealth comes from Head, the Dutch sports equipment company, which he runs from London. |
| He founded the charity Cool Earth which encourages people to donate money to buy tiny sections of the rainforest to save them from destruction. | He founded the charity Cool Earth which encourages people to donate money to buy tiny sections of the rainforest to save them from destruction. |