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Labour donor reveals his identity | |
(30 minutes later) | |
A wealthy North East property developer has told the BBC he is the mystery donor responsible for giving more than £400,000 to the Labour Party. | |
David Abrahams said he gave the money to "friends and colleagues" Janet Kidd and Ray Ruddick to give to the party. | |
He did not use his own name because he did not want any publicity, he added. | |
Labour earlier launched an internal inquiry into the donations after questions were raised about them in a report in the Mail on Sunday. | |
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. |
I can't stand Labour - I can't stand any politicians Ray RuddickLabour donor | |
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. | 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 initially told the newspaper he knew nothing about the donations - apart from a payment of £80,000 made in July. | |
He told the Mail on Sunday reporter: "I can't stand Labour. I can't stand any politicians." | |
Mr Abrahams has now told BBC News it was he who funded the donations by Mr Ruddick and Mrs Kidd. | |
He said he had been a member of the Labour Party for 40 years and had "gifted" money to "friends and colleagues" over the years to donate to the Labour Party. | |
Labour inquiry | |
He said he had not donated the money under his own name because he was "a very private person" who "did not seek publicity". | |
The Labour Party earlier 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." |