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| Lord Ashcroft 'not settling scores' with David Cameron book | Lord Ashcroft 'not settling scores' with David Cameron book |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Ex-Conservative Party treasurer Lord Ashcroft says his new book about David Cameron is "not about settling scores". | Ex-Conservative Party treasurer Lord Ashcroft says his new book about David Cameron is "not about settling scores". |
| The unauthorised biography, serialised in the Daily Mail, includes allegations about the PM's student days. | The unauthorised biography, serialised in the Daily Mail, includes allegations about the PM's student days. |
| The former Tory donor admitted to having personal "beef" with the prime minister after not being offered a major job in the coalition government. | The former Tory donor admitted to having personal "beef" with the prime minister after not being offered a major job in the coalition government. |
| The prime minister's spokeswoman said she did "not see the need to dignify the book by offering any comment". | The prime minister's spokeswoman said she did "not see the need to dignify the book by offering any comment". |
| "The author has set out his reasons for writing it," she added. | "The author has set out his reasons for writing it," she added. |
| 'Raw revenge' | 'Raw revenge' |
| In the book, Lord Ashcroft, who donated millions of pounds to help the Conservatives fight marginal seats, says Mr Cameron was aware of his non-domiciled tax status, which was heavily criticised by Labour, in 2009. | In the book, Lord Ashcroft, who donated millions of pounds to help the Conservatives fight marginal seats, says Mr Cameron was aware of his non-domiciled tax status, which was heavily criticised by Labour, in 2009. |
| The following year Lord Ashcroft released a statement confirming he was a "non-dom", a status he gave up in order to remain in the Lords. | The following year Lord Ashcroft released a statement confirming he was a "non-dom", a status he gave up in order to remain in the Lords. |
| The book also includes allegations of drug-taking and an initiation ceremony Mr Cameron is said, by an unnamed source, to have taken part in, involving a dead pig. | |
| But sources said Mr Cameron was never a member of the club in question, the Piers Gaveston Society, during his time at Oxford University, BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said. | But sources said Mr Cameron was never a member of the club in question, the Piers Gaveston Society, during his time at Oxford University, BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said. |
| He added that the as yet unpublished book, Call Me Dave, was "less a story about stupid student pranks, and more a story about raw political revenge". | He added that the as yet unpublished book, Call Me Dave, was "less a story about stupid student pranks, and more a story about raw political revenge". |
| This was denied by journalist Isabel Oakeshott, who has co-written the book. | This was denied by journalist Isabel Oakeshott, who has co-written the book. |
| She told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "If this was just a revenge job, Lord Ashcroft and I could have published it before the election." | She told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "If this was just a revenge job, Lord Ashcroft and I could have published it before the election." |
| Ms Oakeshott also said the Piers Gaveston Society did not have a formal membership list, saying "people go along" to society gatherings. | Ms Oakeshott also said the Piers Gaveston Society did not have a formal membership list, saying "people go along" to society gatherings. |
| Analysis by Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor | Analysis by Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor |
| Two powerful men need each other, and then one of them becomes more powerful, and doesn't need the other anymore. | Two powerful men need each other, and then one of them becomes more powerful, and doesn't need the other anymore. |
| The understanding which they had comes to break down, recriminations follow, and sometimes, full throttle revenge. | The understanding which they had comes to break down, recriminations follow, and sometimes, full throttle revenge. |
| But the roots of the embarrassment that has sent social media into overdrive in the last day were laid before Twitter was invented. | But the roots of the embarrassment that has sent social media into overdrive in the last day were laid before Twitter was invented. |
| In fact, the origins of the spectacular parting of ways are 15 years ago. | In fact, the origins of the spectacular parting of ways are 15 years ago. |
| Read Laura's blog in full | Read Laura's blog in full |
| In the preface to his book, Lord Ashcroft says that after David Cameron became PM in 2010, he was offered the job of junior Foreign Office whip. | In the preface to his book, Lord Ashcroft says that after David Cameron became PM in 2010, he was offered the job of junior Foreign Office whip. |
| "After putting my neck on the line for nearly 10 years - both as party treasurer under William Hague and as deputy chairman - and after ploughing some £8m into the party, I regarded this as a declinable offer," he wrote. | "After putting my neck on the line for nearly 10 years - both as party treasurer under William Hague and as deputy chairman - and after ploughing some £8m into the party, I regarded this as a declinable offer," he wrote. |
| "It would have been better had Cameron offered me nothing at all." | "It would have been better had Cameron offered me nothing at all." |
| But he added: "Despite my disappointment, my new book about Cameron is not about settling scores." | But he added: "Despite my disappointment, my new book about Cameron is not about settling scores." |
| Who is Lord Ashcroft? | Who is Lord Ashcroft? |
| According to Lord Ashcroft's account, Mr Cameron told him Lib Dem leader and former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg had vetoed his appointment to a government role. | According to Lord Ashcroft's account, Mr Cameron told him Lib Dem leader and former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg had vetoed his appointment to a government role. |
| 'Awkward decisions' | 'Awkward decisions' |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World at One, Mr Clegg said he did not recall being asked. | Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World at One, Mr Clegg said he did not recall being asked. |
| "I'm now used to Conservatives - they certainly did it for five years - using me as an alibi for awkward decisions that they had to face within their own party and I'm certain they fell into that category," he said. | "I'm now used to Conservatives - they certainly did it for five years - using me as an alibi for awkward decisions that they had to face within their own party and I'm certain they fell into that category," he said. |
| Lord Ashcroft was deputy chairman during Mr Cameron's period as leader in opposition. | Lord Ashcroft was deputy chairman during Mr Cameron's period as leader in opposition. |
| In July 2010, he gave up his non-domiciled tax status to remain in the Lords after a law was passed requiring peers and MPs to be tax resident and domiciled in order to remain in Parliament. | In July 2010, he gave up his non-domiciled tax status to remain in the Lords after a law was passed requiring peers and MPs to be tax resident and domiciled in order to remain in Parliament. |
| His tax status had long been criticised by his opponents. | His tax status had long been criticised by his opponents. |
| Labour's shadow minister Jonathan Ashworth has written to Downing Street asking whether Mr Cameron was, as Lord Ashcroft claims, aware of his tax arrangements in 2009. | |
| Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Mr Cameron should "address directly" the claim, describing it as a "serious allegation". | |
| In March Lord Ashcroft said he was stepping down from the House of Lords because he could not devote enough time to it. | In March Lord Ashcroft said he was stepping down from the House of Lords because he could not devote enough time to it. |
| In recent years he has built a reputation as an independent pollster. | In recent years he has built a reputation as an independent pollster. |