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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tories call party funding debate | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| MPs are set to debate party funding reform in the wake of revelations about disguised donations to Labour. | MPs are set to debate party funding reform in the wake of revelations about disguised donations to Labour. |
| The Conservatives have called a Commons debate on the issue. Gordon Brown said on Monday he wanted consensus and to move "quickly" on funding reform. | |
| It follows revelations that a property developer donated more than £650,000 to Labour under other people's names. | It follows revelations that a property developer donated more than £650,000 to Labour under other people's names. |
| The Tories were due to debate the civil service but changed topics after what they call the "succession of scandals". | The Tories were due to debate the civil service but changed topics after what they call the "succession of scandals". |
| Property developer David Abrahams says he donated the money using the names of four associates, because he wanted to maintain his privacy and did not realise he was doing anything wrong. | Property developer David Abrahams says he donated the money using the names of four associates, because he wanted to maintain his privacy and did not realise he was doing anything wrong. |
| 'Completely unacceptable' | 'Completely unacceptable' |
| By law, anyone donating more than £5,000 must be identified and relevant details about them disclosed. | By law, anyone donating more than £5,000 must be identified and relevant details about them disclosed. |
| Police are now investigating those donations, which Gordon Brown has already described as "completely unacceptable" and has pledged to pay back. | Police are now investigating those donations, which Gordon Brown has already described as "completely unacceptable" and has pledged to pay back. |
| The Conservative motion for Tuesday's debate states: "This House notes with concern the corrosion of public trust in democracy following the recent succession of scandals over the funding of the governing political party." | The Conservative motion for Tuesday's debate states: "This House notes with concern the corrosion of public trust in democracy following the recent succession of scandals over the funding of the governing political party." |
| PM 'wants quick reforms' How are parties funded? | PM 'wants quick reforms' How are parties funded? |
| It goes on discuss previous failed talks over party funding reform - which collapsed over the issue of caps on funding. | It goes on discuss previous failed talks over party funding reform - which collapsed over the issue of caps on funding. |
| On Monday, the prime minister reiterated his desire to press ahead with party funding reform, saying he wanted to produce new laws "quickly" and adding: "I have told the trade unions we have to make changes to the political levy so that is transparent as well." | On Monday, the prime minister reiterated his desire to press ahead with party funding reform, saying he wanted to produce new laws "quickly" and adding: "I have told the trade unions we have to make changes to the political levy so that is transparent as well." |
| Conservative leader David Cameron, who pulled out of previous talks saying the trade unions had to be included in any cap on donations, said: "If there's a genuine change of heart in the Labour Party, of course we would be delighted to talk to them. | Conservative leader David Cameron, who pulled out of previous talks saying the trade unions had to be included in any cap on donations, said: "If there's a genuine change of heart in the Labour Party, of course we would be delighted to talk to them. |
| "But we absolutely have to know that the trades unions will be addressed. The £50,000 cap has to be applied across the board." | "But we absolutely have to know that the trades unions will be addressed. The £50,000 cap has to be applied across the board." |
| Liberal Democrat frontbencher David Heath said only by capping donations and expenditure could a "fair, transparent, and sustainable outcome" be arrived at. | Liberal Democrat frontbencher David Heath said only by capping donations and expenditure could a "fair, transparent, and sustainable outcome" be arrived at. |
| In other developments, Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander has been urged to consider her position, after her campaign team admitted accepting an illegal donation from a Jersey-based businessman. | In other developments, Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander has been urged to consider her position, after her campaign team admitted accepting an illegal donation from a Jersey-based businessman. |
| 'Regrettable' | |
| And Welsh and Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain has said he has discovered further donations to his campaign for the party's deputy leadership were not properly declared. | And Welsh and Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain has said he has discovered further donations to his campaign for the party's deputy leadership were not properly declared. |
| He is due to make a full declaration to the Electoral Commission but said: "This is extremely regrettable and I apologise." | He is due to make a full declaration to the Electoral Commission but said: "This is extremely regrettable and I apologise." |
| But Liberal Democrat frontbencher Chris Huhne told the BBC: "It is astonishing that Cabinet ministers seem to think that the laws they introduce do not apply to them." | But Liberal Democrat frontbencher Chris Huhne told the BBC: "It is astonishing that Cabinet ministers seem to think that the laws they introduce do not apply to them." |
| Harriet Harman, who won the deputy leadership, has also been criticised for accepting a donation from Janet Kidd - one of Mr Abrahams' associates - when similar offers were rejected by Gordon Brown and her fellow deputy contender Hilary Benn. | Harriet Harman, who won the deputy leadership, has also been criticised for accepting a donation from Janet Kidd - one of Mr Abrahams' associates - when similar offers were rejected by Gordon Brown and her fellow deputy contender Hilary Benn. |
| She has said she did not know the money came from Mr Abrahams. | She has said she did not know the money came from Mr Abrahams. |
| Meanwhile, a BBC poll suggests than half of adults think Gordon Brown has been tainted by sleaze. | |
| According to an ICM poll for Newsnight, 57% thought Mr Brown was tainted, compared with 28% for Mr Cameron and 15% for acting Lib Dem leader Vince Cable. | |
| A a random sample of 1,000 adults was interviewed by telephone between 30 November and 2 December. | |
| Interviews were conducted across the country and the results were weighted to the profile of all adults. |