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| Donations boost for Conservatives | Donations boost for Conservatives |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Conservatives received £2m more in donations than Labour in the run-up to June's European elections, Electoral Commission figures show. | The Conservatives received £2m more in donations than Labour in the run-up to June's European elections, Electoral Commission figures show. |
| The Tories were given £6.39m between April and June, compared with the £4.39m banked by Labour. The Lib Dems were given £1.13m over the same period. | The Tories were given £6.39m between April and June, compared with the £4.39m banked by Labour. The Lib Dems were given £1.13m over the same period. |
| The Tories' coffers were boosted by a single donation of more than £1m from financier David Rowland. | The Tories' coffers were boosted by a single donation of more than £1m from financier David Rowland. |
| The BNP is to be fined for failing to submit its donation returns on time. | The BNP is to be fined for failing to submit its donation returns on time. |
| The latest figures from the electoral watchdog show the Conservatives continue to outstrip Labour in terms of donations. | The latest figures from the electoral watchdog show the Conservatives continue to outstrip Labour in terms of donations. |
| No agreement | No agreement |
| The most recent quarter is significant as it covers the period leading up to the European elections, in which the Conservatives topped the polls and Labour was pushed into third place behind the UK Independence Party. | The most recent quarter is significant as it covers the period leading up to the European elections, in which the Conservatives topped the polls and Labour was pushed into third place behind the UK Independence Party. |
| The Conservatives welcomed Mr Rowland's donation as a signal of his "desire to help change Britain for the better". They said they had widened their pool of backers and were not simply relying on a handful of wealthy supporters. | |
| Mr Rowland, ranked 66th in the most recent Sunday Times Rich List, said he expected to make further "substantial" donations as the Tories gear up for the general election campaign. | |
| Even during the height of the expenses scandal the amount of money being given to political parties went up Laura Kuenssberg BBC political correspondent Read Laura's thoughts in full | Even during the height of the expenses scandal the amount of money being given to political parties went up Laura Kuenssberg BBC political correspondent Read Laura's thoughts in full |
| Party leader David Cameron has backed a £50,000 cap on individual donations to political parties if it is applied to trade unions as well as individuals and companies - Labour is opposed to capping union donations. | |
| The three main parties have failed to reach agreement on the issue. | The three main parties have failed to reach agreement on the issue. |
| Labour's largest single donor over the past three months was the Unite union, which gave it more than £1m. | Labour's largest single donor over the past three months was the Unite union, which gave it more than £1m. |
| In the past, Labour has also received large donations from individuals, including £1m from novelist JK Rowling last autumn. | |
| Meanwhile the Electoral Commission is to fine the BNP after it failed to submit its donations record for the period, having also failed to submit its statement of accounts for 2008 on time. | Meanwhile the Electoral Commission is to fine the BNP after it failed to submit its donations record for the period, having also failed to submit its statement of accounts for 2008 on time. |
| The fines could range from £500 and £5,000 depending on when the information is handed over. | The fines could range from £500 and £5,000 depending on when the information is handed over. |
| The BNP was fined in 2007 for failing to submit its accounts for the previous year on time as well as details of its campaign expenditure for elections to the Scottish Parliament. | The BNP was fined in 2007 for failing to submit its accounts for the previous year on time as well as details of its campaign expenditure for elections to the Scottish Parliament. |
| The watchdog said the BNP's actions were "unacceptable" and it would be taking action to make sure it did not happen again. | The watchdog said the BNP's actions were "unacceptable" and it would be taking action to make sure it did not happen again. |
| "We will be assessing the systems they have in place to ensure compliance with the law," said Peter Wardle, the Electoral Commission's chief executive. | "We will be assessing the systems they have in place to ensure compliance with the law," said Peter Wardle, the Electoral Commission's chief executive. |
| The party, which won two seats in June's European elections, said it was unaware that the information had not been sent and would investigate the matter. | The party, which won two seats in June's European elections, said it was unaware that the information had not been sent and would investigate the matter. |
| Donations to UK political parties totalled £13.19m between April and June, the fourth highest quarterly amount on record. | Donations to UK political parties totalled £13.19m between April and June, the fourth highest quarterly amount on record. |
| This was despite the expenses scandal which erupted in early May and tarnished the reputation of Westminster. | This was despite the expenses scandal which erupted in early May and tarnished the reputation of Westminster. |
| Stuart Wheeler, the former Conservative benefactor who was expelled from the party earlier this year for giving money to UKIP, donated a further £28,000 to UKIP over the three month period. |