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| Labour probes mystery donations | Labour probes mystery donations |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The Labour Party has launched an internal inquiry after questions were raised over donations totalling almost £400,000 from two individuals. | The Labour Party has launched an internal inquiry after questions were raised over donations totalling almost £400,000 from two individuals. |
| Ray Ruddick and Janet Kidd are named by the Electoral Commission as having donated large sums to the party over the past five years. | Ray Ruddick and Janet Kidd are named by the Electoral Commission as having donated large sums to the party over the past five years. |
| But Mr Ruddick told the Mail on Sunday he knew nothing about the donations - apart from an £80,000 gift in July. | But Mr Ruddick told the Mail on Sunday he knew nothing about the donations - apart from an £80,000 gift in July. |
| Labour said it was investigating the newspaper's claims. | Labour said it was investigating the newspaper's claims. |
| The Mail on Sunday reports that when it approached Mr Ruddick he initially denied having given the party money and said neither he nor Mrs Kidd were aware of the donations. | The Mail on Sunday reports that when it approached Mr Ruddick he initially denied having given the party money and said neither he nor Mrs Kidd were aware of the donations. |
| In a later statement to the newspaper, Mr Rudd confirmed that he and Mrs Kidd had each given £80,000 to the Labour Party on 10 July, but said the donations were the first they had given to the party. | In a later statement to the newspaper, Mr Rudd confirmed that he and Mrs Kidd had each given £80,000 to the Labour Party on 10 July, but said the donations were the first they had given to the party. |
| 'Can't stand Labour' | 'Can't stand Labour' |
| According to the Electoral Commission, Mr Ruddick has donated £196,850 to Labour and Mrs Kidd £185,000 since 2003. | According to the Electoral Commission, Mr Ruddick has donated £196,850 to Labour and Mrs Kidd £185,000 since 2003. |
| There is clearly something extremely unusual about all of this Chris Grayling, shadow work and pensions spokesman | There is clearly something extremely unusual about all of this Chris Grayling, shadow work and pensions spokesman |
| They are listed as having given the party £222,000 between them since Gordon Brown became leader, making them Mr Brown's third biggest donors after Lord Sainsbury and businessman Mahmoud Khayami. | They are listed as having given the party £222,000 between them since Gordon Brown became leader, making them Mr Brown's third biggest donors after Lord Sainsbury and businessman Mahmoud Khayami. |
| According to the Mail on Sunday, Mr Ruddick, who is a builder, drives an old Transit van and lives in a former council house in Newcastle. | |
| He told the newspaper's reporter: "I can't stand Labour. I can't stand any politicians." | He told the newspaper's reporter: "I can't stand Labour. I can't stand any politicians." |
| The newspaper alleges that Mr Ruddick and Mrs Kidd are linked with David Abrahams, a property developer and prominent Labour figure in the North-East of England. | The newspaper alleges that Mr Ruddick and Mrs Kidd are linked with David Abrahams, a property developer and prominent Labour figure in the North-East of England. |
| Mr Abrahams reportedly declined to comment on whether he had funded the donations. | Mr Abrahams reportedly declined to comment on whether he had funded the donations. |
| 'Beyond reproach' | 'Beyond reproach' |
| The Labour Party has confirmed that its General Secretary Peter Watt had been asked to look into the donations. "It is important that the Labour Party is beyond reproach in this matter," said a spokesman. | The Labour Party has confirmed that its General Secretary Peter Watt had been asked to look into the donations. "It is important that the Labour Party is beyond reproach in this matter," said a spokesman. |
| "The General Secretary has therefore been asked to investigate this issue and report his findings to the Party's treasurer." | "The General Secretary has therefore been asked to investigate this issue and report his findings to the Party's treasurer." |
| Shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling, for the Conservatives, said: "There is clearly something extremely unusual about all of this. | Shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling, for the Conservatives, said: "There is clearly something extremely unusual about all of this. |
| "Given the fact that Gordon Brown promised to bring a fresh approach to British politics, he and the Labour Party need to give a pretty clear explanation of the circumstances surrounding these donations." | "Given the fact that Gordon Brown promised to bring a fresh approach to British politics, he and the Labour Party need to give a pretty clear explanation of the circumstances surrounding these donations." |