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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Labour donor reveals his identity | Labour donor reveals his identity |
| (about 1 hour 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. | 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. | David Abrahams said he gave the money to "friends and colleagues" Janet Kidd and Ray Ruddick to give to the party. |
| Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said he is concerned about the arrangement. | |
| Labour earlier launched an internal inquiry into the donations after questions were raised about them in a report in the Mail on Sunday. | Labour earlier launched an internal inquiry into the donations after questions were raised about them in a report in the Mail on Sunday. |
| Mr Straw said: "Whether these arrangements are within the letter of the law they are plainly not transparent. I am concerned about them. "I shall ask both the Electoral Commission and my officials for immediate advice on what action should be taken." | |
| 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 | 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 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." | 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. | 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 Labour member for 40 years and had "gifted" money to "friends and colleagues" over the years to donate to the party. | He said he had been a Labour member for 40 years and had "gifted" money to "friends and colleagues" over the years to donate to the party. |
| Labour inquiry | 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". | He said he had not donated the money under his own name because he was "a very private person" who "did not seek publicity". |
| Gordon Brown needs to come clean quickly and explain what has been going on Chris Grayling, shadow work and pensions secretary | |
| The Labour Party earlier confirmed that its General Secretary Peter Watt had been asked to look into the donations. | 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. | "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." |
| Commenting on the latest development, Conservative frontbencher Chris Grayling said: "This is all extremely mysterious. | |
| "It is bound to generate suspicions about what the Labour Party has been up to. | |
| "Gordon Brown needs to come clean quickly and explain what has been going on." |