Lib Dems breached donation rules

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/8211809.stm

Version 0 of 1.

The Liberal Democrats broke electoral rules when accepting donations from a south London MP's son, it has emerged.

Jonathan Kramer, son of Susan Kramer, MP for Richmond Park, donated more than £1,300 to the Liberal Democrats between December 2008 and March 2009.

But the party was forced to repay the money when the Electoral Commission discovered Mr Kramer was not registered to vote in the UK.

Parties can only accept donations from those on the electoral role.

A Lib Dem spokeswoman said Mr Kramer, an investment banker who lives in London, was unaware he had fallen off the electoral register.

The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 says political parties must not accept donations from an impermissible donor.

Parties have 30 days to check whether donations are permissible or return them - something the Lib Dems failed to do.

Legal action against the party was not necessary because the money was repaid as soon as the error was pointed out, the Electoral Commission confirmed.