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Burnham cash-for-access row: donor says money was for event Burnham cash-for-access row: donor says money was for event
(about 1 hour later)
The businessman at the centre of a cash for access row involving Labour leadership candidate Andy Burnham has insisted that the money was intended for a party supporters’ event. The businessman at the centre of a cash for access row involving the Labour leadership candidate Andy Burnham has insisted that the money was intended for a party supporters’ event.
Faiz ul-Rasool, who was filmed receiving £5,000 in a casino, from an undercover reporter from the Sun, said that the money was a deposit for a Muslim Friends of Labour event, and not funding for the leadership campaign. Faiz ul-Rasool, who was filmed in a casino receiving £5,000 from an undercover reporter from the Sun, said the money was a deposit for a Muslim Friends of Labour event, and not funding for the leadership campaign.
Burnham was dragged into the row after The Sun filmed Rasool arranging a face-to-face meeting between the undercover reporter and the Leigh MP. Rasool told the Guardian that he had returned the money after carrying out checks on the undercover reporter. Burnham was dragged into the row after the Sun filmed Rasool arranging a face-to-face meeting between the undercover reporter and the Leigh MP. Rasool said he had returned the money after carrying out checks on the undercover reporter.
“I have been independently involved in organising and mobilising the Muslim community to help and support the Labour Party for many years. I have a track record of supporting the party in an open, transparent and legitimate way,” he said.“I have been independently involved in organising and mobilising the Muslim community to help and support the Labour Party for many years. I have a track record of supporting the party in an open, transparent and legitimate way,” he said.
Rasool has given the Labour party over £180,000 in the last decade. He supported David Miliband’s leadership bid in 2010 and Alan Johnson’s deputy leadership bid in 2007. The businessman is the chair of the Labour Friends of Pakistan and co-chair of Muslim Friends of Labour. Rasool has given the Labour party more than £180,000 in the last decade. He supported David Miliband’s leadership bid in 2010 and Alan Johnson’s deputy leadership bid in 2007. The businessman is the chair of the Labour Friends of Pakistan and co-chair of Muslim Friends of Labour.
He said that the money – handed over in £10 and £20 notes - would have paid for hosting an event for Muslim Friends of Labour. Rasool added that he was disappointed at being targeted by The Sun. He said the money – handed over in £10 and £20 notes – would have paid for hosting an event for Muslim Friends of Labour. Rasool added that he was disappointed at being targeted by the Sun.
“It is harassment by the media. I am not worried, because it is harassment and it is really unacceptable,” he said. Rasool said he was approached by a reporter posing as a businessman called “Arshad Omar”, and assured of his credibility and respectability by one of his acquaintances. “It is harassment by the media. I am not worried, because it is harassment and it is really unacceptable,” he said. Rasool said he was approached by a reporter posing as a businessman called Arshad Omar, and assured of his credibility and respectability by one of his acquaintances.
“I confirm that I was given £5,000 by ‘Mr Arshad’ as a deposit for sponsorship for a planned Muslim Friends of Labour reception,” said Mr Rasool. “The deposit was not for Andy Burnham. After carrying out due diligence on Mr Arshad I concluded that he was unable to satisfy the criteria. Specifically his claimed identity could not be verified.” “I confirm that I was given £5,000 by Mr Arshad as a deposit for sponsorship for a planned Muslim Friends of Labour reception,” said Rasool. “The deposit was not for Andy Burnham. After carrying out due diligence on Mr Arshad I concluded that he was unable to satisfy the criteria. Specifically his claimed identity could not be verified.”
Rasool said he sent a text message to the reporter to say that he had not satisfied the due diligence checks and that his deposit would be returned, before any story was published. Rasool said that before any story was published he sent a text message to the reporter to say that he had not satisfied the due diligence checks and that his deposit would be returned.
Muslim Friends of Labour were a major political donor to the party, but have not given any money since 2007, after it emerged that the group was used to channel more than £300,000 to Labour anonymously. At the time, the name of the donor – computer entrepreneur Imran Khand– was not disclosed to the Electoral Commission because of a loophole for giving money through unincorporated associations. The rules have since been changed, to improve transparency. Muslim Friends of Labour were a major political donor to the party, but have not given any money since 2007, after it emerged that the group was used to channel more than £300,000 to Labour anonymously. At the time, the name of the donor – computer entrepreneur Imran Khand– was not disclosed to the Electoral Commission because of a loophole for giving money through unincorporated associations. The rules have since been changed to improve transparency.
Rasool, who lives in a £1.2m-flat in South Kensington, London, was a butcher in Brixton, before running several food-related businesses. Rasool, who lives in a £1.2m flat in South Kensington, London, was a butcher in Brixton before running several food-related businesses.
A spokesperson for Andy Burnham said: “Faiz ul-Rasool has had no role, formal or informal, within the Burnham campaign. He made a donation in July of £5,000, which was declared in accordance with standard compliance rules.” A spokesperson for Burnham said: “Faiz ul-Rasool has had no role, formal or informal, within the Burnham campaign. He made a donation in July of £5,000, which was declared in accordance with standard compliance rules.”
The spokesperson denied that Arshad had been invited to a reception near the Labour party’s headquarters in London, where he met and was pictured with Burnham. The spokesperson denied that Arshad had been invited to a reception near Labour headquarters in London, where he met and was pictured with Burnham. “Mr Arshad was not invited to the reception held at campaign HQ on Monday evening and the event organisers were not notified that another guest was planning to bring him along. He asked for a photograph next to Andy, with people he claimed were his wife and baby.”
“Mr Arshad was not invited to the reception held at campaign HQ on Monday evening and the event organisers were not notified that another guest was planning to bring him along. He asked for a photograph next to Andy, with people he claimed were his wife and baby.”