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Labour probes mystery donations Labour donor reveals his identity
(30 minutes later)
The Labour Party has launched an internal inquiry after questions were raised over donations totalling almost £400,000 from two individuals. 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.
Ray Ruddick and Janet Kidd are named by the Electoral Commission as having donated large sums to the party over the past five years. David Abrahams said he gave the money to "friends and colleagues" Janet Kidd and Ray Ruddick to give to the party.
But Mr Ruddick told the Mail on Sunday he knew nothing about the donations - apart from an £80,000 gift in July. He did not use his own name because he did not want any publicity, he added.
Labour said it was investigating the newspaper's claims. Labour earlier launched an internal inquiry into the donations after questions were raised about them in a report in the Mail on Sunday.
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.
'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 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 told the newspaper's reporter: "I can't stand Labour. I can't stand any politicians." He initially told the newspaper he knew nothing about the donations - apart from a payment of £80,000 made in July.
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. He told the Mail on Sunday reporter: "I can't stand Labour. I can't stand any politicians."
Mr Abrahams reportedly declined to comment on whether he had funded the donations. Mr Abrahams has now told BBC News it was he who funded the donations by Mr Ruddick and Mrs Kidd.
'Beyond reproach' 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.
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. Labour inquiry
"The General Secretary has therefore been asked to investigate this issue and report his findings to the Party's treasurer." He said he had not donated the money under his own name because he was "a very private person" who "did not seek publicity".
Shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling, for the Conservatives, said: "There is clearly something extremely unusual about all of this. The Labour Party earlier confirmed that its General Secretary Peter Watt had been asked to look into the 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." "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."