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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Concern over secret Labour donor | Concern over secret Labour donor |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A wealthy North East property developer has admitted being behind a series of large donations to the Labour Party. | A wealthy North East property developer has admitted being behind a series of large donations to the Labour Party. |
| David Abrahams gave more than £400,000 to the party through "friends" Janet Kidd and Ray Ruddick because, he said, he did not want to "seek publicity". | David Abrahams gave more than £400,000 to the party through "friends" Janet Kidd and Ray Ruddick because, he said, he did not want to "seek publicity". |
| Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said he is concerned about the arrangement, which was "plainly not transparent". | Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said he is concerned about the arrangement, which was "plainly not transparent". |
| The Electoral Commission has asked Labour to explain the donations, which may breach electoral law. | The Electoral Commission has asked Labour to explain the donations, which may breach electoral law. |
| Mr Straw said: "Whether these arrangements are within the letter of the law they are plainly not transparent. I am concerned about them. | 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." | "I shall ask both the Electoral Commission and my officials for immediate advice on what action should be taken." |
| 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 |
| Under electoral law, people making donations on behalf of others must give full details of the person providing the money. | Under electoral law, people making donations on behalf of others must give full details of the person providing the money. |
| David Abrahams has told the BBC he will declare his donation if he is required to. | |
| According to Electoral Commission records, Mr Ruddick, a builder, who drives an old Ford Transit van and lives in a former council house in Newcastle, is Labour's third biggest donor. | According to Electoral Commission records, Mr Ruddick, a builder, who drives an old Ford Transit van and lives in a former council house in Newcastle, is Labour's third biggest donor. |
| When he was contacted by the Mail on Sunday newspaper he initially told it he knew nothing about the donations - apart from a payment of £80,000 made in July. | When he was contacted by the Mail on Sunday newspaper he initially told it he knew nothing about the donations - apart from a payment of £80,000 made in July. |
| He told the paper's reporter: "I can't stand Labour. I can't stand any politicians." | He told the paper's reporter: "I can't stand Labour. I can't stand any politicians." |
| 'Private person' | 'Private person' |
| Mr Abrahams told BBC News it was he who had funded the donations by his "friend and colleague" Mr Ruddick and Mrs Kidd, who is reported to be his secretary. | Mr Abrahams told BBC News it was he who had funded the donations by his "friend and colleague" Mr Ruddick and Mrs Kidd, who is reported to be his secretary. |
| Gordon Brown needs to come clean quickly and explain what has been going on Chris Grayling, shadow work and pensions secretary | Gordon Brown needs to come clean quickly and explain what has been going on Chris Grayling, shadow work and pensions secretary |
| Mr Abrahams said: "I'm a member of the Labour Party and have been for nearly 40 years, since I was 15. | Mr Abrahams said: "I'm a member of the Labour Party and have been for nearly 40 years, since I was 15. |
| "I have always been fortunate enough to be able to make donations to worthwhile causes including the Labour Party." | "I have always been fortunate enough to be able to make donations to worthwhile causes including the Labour Party." |
| He said he had "gifted funds to my friends and colleagues" so they could make donations on his behalf. | He said he had "gifted funds to my friends and colleagues" so they could make donations on his behalf. |
| 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". |
| Labour inquiry | Labour inquiry |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Janet Kidd is also listed as making a donation to Harriet Harman's successful campaign to be Labour deputy leader, while Mr Abrahams is listed, under his own name, as a donor to Ms Harman's defeated rival Hilary Benn. | Janet Kidd is also listed as making a donation to Harriet Harman's successful campaign to be Labour deputy leader, while Mr Abrahams is listed, under his own name, as a donor to Ms Harman's defeated rival Hilary Benn. |
| 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 donations, Conservative frontbencher Chris Grayling said: "This is all extremely mysterious. | Commenting on the donations, 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. | "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." | "Gordon Brown needs to come clean quickly and explain what has been going on." |