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| David Cameron refuses to disclose No 10 guests after donor row | David Cameron refuses to disclose No 10 guests after donor row |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| David Cameron has declined to reveal whom he has invited to dinner at his home - after a request made in the wake of the donor row - because such details are "private", Number 10 has said. | David Cameron has declined to reveal whom he has invited to dinner at his home - after a request made in the wake of the donor row - because such details are "private", Number 10 has said. |
| But the PM promised a "proper inquiry" into donations after the resignation of Tory co-treasurer Peter Cruddas. | But the PM promised a "proper inquiry" into donations after the resignation of Tory co-treasurer Peter Cruddas. |
| Mr Cruddas quit after reporters filmed him saying Tory party donors could gain influence at No 10's policy committee. | Mr Cruddas quit after reporters filmed him saying Tory party donors could gain influence at No 10's policy committee. |
| The BBC understands guests to the PM's home have included some party donors. | The BBC understands guests to the PM's home have included some party donors. |
| But ministerial aides at Number 10 say it will not reveal any further details about the guest list because his Downing Street flat is used as his private family home and Mr Cameron - not the taxpayer - foots the hospitality bill. | But ministerial aides at Number 10 say it will not reveal any further details about the guest list because his Downing Street flat is used as his private family home and Mr Cameron - not the taxpayer - foots the hospitality bill. |
| The known guests include long-standing party donors such as former Tory treasurer Michael Spencer and the party's current chief executive, Andrew Feldman, who is an old university friend of Mr Cameron. | The known guests include long-standing party donors such as former Tory treasurer Michael Spencer and the party's current chief executive, Andrew Feldman, who is an old university friend of Mr Cameron. |
| Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude told the BBC it was "a bit of a nonsense" to suggest that any donor could be invited for supper at Downing Street and the fact that Mr Cruddas had not been to No 10 "tells its own story". | Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude told the BBC it was "a bit of a nonsense" to suggest that any donor could be invited for supper at Downing Street and the fact that Mr Cruddas had not been to No 10 "tells its own story". |
| Call for inquiry | Call for inquiry |
| Labour is demanding an independent inquiry after Mr Cruddas's claims, which were filmed by undercover Sunday Times reporters, came to light over the weekend. The matter has also been reported to the Metropolitan Police. | Labour is demanding an independent inquiry after Mr Cruddas's claims, which were filmed by undercover Sunday Times reporters, came to light over the weekend. The matter has also been reported to the Metropolitan Police. |
| Mark Adams, a Labour supporter and lobbyist who prompted the Sunday Times investigation and later contacted the police, told the BBC why the issue was so serious. | Mark Adams, a Labour supporter and lobbyist who prompted the Sunday Times investigation and later contacted the police, told the BBC why the issue was so serious. |
| He said: "Of course we would all expect that in return for the money there is at least an invitation to a reception. | He said: "Of course we would all expect that in return for the money there is at least an invitation to a reception. |
| "But actually having that level of access, private access - it seems the prime minister is reluctant to even reveal who these people are who dine with him privately - I find it truly astonishing that that level of access, secret access... can be achieved in return for a substantial donation." | "But actually having that level of access, private access - it seems the prime minister is reluctant to even reveal who these people are who dine with him privately - I find it truly astonishing that that level of access, secret access... can be achieved in return for a substantial donation." |
| Labour have requested full disclosure of dinner guests entertained at Mr Cameron's Downing Street home. | Labour have requested full disclosure of dinner guests entertained at Mr Cameron's Downing Street home. |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband said the matter could not be "swept under the carpet" and a "proper independent investigation" was needed. | Labour leader Ed Miliband said the matter could not be "swept under the carpet" and a "proper independent investigation" was needed. |
| "We need to know what happened. These are so serious, these allegations, because it's about the way that policy is made, we've just had a Budget in which the tax rate has been cut at the top of the income scale. | "We need to know what happened. These are so serious, these allegations, because it's about the way that policy is made, we've just had a Budget in which the tax rate has been cut at the top of the income scale. |
| "We need to know what access was paid for, if access was paid for, and what contributions were made and the interaction between the prime minister, the chancellor and Conservative Party donors." | "We need to know what access was paid for, if access was paid for, and what contributions were made and the interaction between the prime minister, the chancellor and Conservative Party donors." |
| Conservative MP Mark Field has said a list of donors who had been entertained in the flat at Number 10 should be released. | Conservative MP Mark Field has said a list of donors who had been entertained in the flat at Number 10 should be released. |
| Mr Cruddas was secretly filmed saying that a donation of £200,000 or £250,000 gave "premier league" access to party leaders, including private dinners with Mr Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne. He also suggested that any such donor could have their feedback on political plans fed back to the party's policy committee. | Mr Cruddas was secretly filmed saying that a donation of £200,000 or £250,000 gave "premier league" access to party leaders, including private dinners with Mr Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne. He also suggested that any such donor could have their feedback on political plans fed back to the party's policy committee. |
| He was heard initially saying that it was not possible to buy access to the prime minister. | He was heard initially saying that it was not possible to buy access to the prime minister. |
| But he then went on to discuss what access different size donations would get. | But he then went on to discuss what access different size donations would get. |
| He was speaking to the reporters posing as staff from a fake wealth fund based in Liechtenstein who were interested in doing business in the UK. | He was speaking to the reporters posing as staff from a fake wealth fund based in Liechtenstein who were interested in doing business in the UK. |
| He told them: "Two hundred grand to 250 is premier league… what you would get is, when we talk about your donations the first thing we want to do is get you at the Cameron/Osborne dinners." | He told them: "Two hundred grand to 250 is premier league… what you would get is, when we talk about your donations the first thing we want to do is get you at the Cameron/Osborne dinners." |
| He said they would be able to ask Mr Cameron "practically any question you want" and their views would be relayed to the No 10 policy committee. | He said they would be able to ask Mr Cameron "practically any question you want" and their views would be relayed to the No 10 policy committee. |
| 'Friends to supper' | 'Friends to supper' |
| Speaking on Sunday, Mr Cameron said the incident should not have taken place and has promised a "proper party inquiry". | Speaking on Sunday, Mr Cameron said the incident should not have taken place and has promised a "proper party inquiry". |
| "This is not the way we raise money in the Conservative Party. It shouldn't have happened," he said. | "This is not the way we raise money in the Conservative Party. It shouldn't have happened," he said. |
| In his resignation statement, Mr Cruddas said he regretted "any impression of impropriety" and there was "no question of donors being able to influence policy or gain undue access to politicians". | In his resignation statement, Mr Cruddas said he regretted "any impression of impropriety" and there was "no question of donors being able to influence policy or gain undue access to politicians". |
| The Conservative Party currently has several levels of donation, with the top one being the Leader's Group, where for an annual donation of £50,000 donors can be invited to join Mr Cameron and other senior figures from the Conservative Party at dinners, post-Prime Minister's Questions lunches, drinks receptions, election result events and important campaign launches. | The Conservative Party currently has several levels of donation, with the top one being the Leader's Group, where for an annual donation of £50,000 donors can be invited to join Mr Cameron and other senior figures from the Conservative Party at dinners, post-Prime Minister's Questions lunches, drinks receptions, election result events and important campaign launches. |
| Mr Maude said the government had been "more transparent" than any other about publishing details of meetings involving the PM and other ministers but it took the issue "very seriously" and more changes were needed. | Mr Maude said the government had been "more transparent" than any other about publishing details of meetings involving the PM and other ministers but it took the issue "very seriously" and more changes were needed. |
| 'Unreasonable' | 'Unreasonable' |
| But he said it was "unreasonable" to publish details of everyone Mr Cameron had entertained or met privately. | But he said it was "unreasonable" to publish details of everyone Mr Cameron had entertained or met privately. |
| "People do not pay for access to the prime minister's private suppers," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "People do not pay for access to the prime minister's private suppers," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| "If you join the leader's group, there will be certain events you get invited to - those are quite party-organised events. | "If you join the leader's group, there will be certain events you get invited to - those are quite party-organised events. |
| "It is different from the prime minister's private life where he and his wife will have friends to supper and go to supper with other people and friends." | "It is different from the prime minister's private life where he and his wife will have friends to supper and go to supper with other people and friends." |
| The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said he believed No 10 would eventually publish the information but they were reluctant to do so because the prime minister regarded the flat as his "private space". | The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said he believed No 10 would eventually publish the information but they were reluctant to do so because the prime minister regarded the flat as his "private space". |
| The Lib Dems have said "reform" of party funding was necessary and cross party talks were already due to start within the next few weeks. | The Lib Dems have said "reform" of party funding was necessary and cross party talks were already due to start within the next few weeks. |
| What is your reaction to this story? Send us your comments using the form below. | What is your reaction to this story? Send us your comments using the form below. |