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| Cash-for-access row: Politics live blog | Cash-for-access row: Politics live blog |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 11.37am: Just back from the lobby. | |
| • David Cameron will make a statement about the cash-for-access affair at the end of his speech (ie, at about 12ish). I'm told he will give details about the internal Tory inquiry into the affair. | |
| • Francis Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, will make a statement in the Commons at 3.30pm about party funding. | |
| I'll post more from the lobby in a moment. | |
| 10.51am: You can read all today's Guardian politics stories here. And all the politics stories filed yesterday, including some in today's paper, are here. | 10.51am: You can read all today's Guardian politics stories here. And all the politics stories filed yesterday, including some in today's paper, are here. |
| As for the rest of the papers, here are four cash-for-access articles that are particularly interesting. | As for the rest of the papers, here are four cash-for-access articles that are particularly interesting. |
| • Iain Martin in the Telegraph says there were warnings this would happen. | • Iain Martin in the Telegraph says there were warnings this would happen. |
| In recent weeks, I have heard mutterings that Downing Street has been operating a recklessly ill-judged open-door policy. Earlier this month, someone whose work brings him into regular contact with Number 10 told me that he was worried: "If you've got enough cash and you want to get through the front door to talk about planning or whatever bothers you, then you can get in." The cumulative impression is toxic for the Tories, particularly after a budget in which the Chancellor announced the removal of the 50p tax band. | In recent weeks, I have heard mutterings that Downing Street has been operating a recklessly ill-judged open-door policy. Earlier this month, someone whose work brings him into regular contact with Number 10 told me that he was worried: "If you've got enough cash and you want to get through the front door to talk about planning or whatever bothers you, then you can get in." The cumulative impression is toxic for the Tories, particularly after a budget in which the Chancellor announced the removal of the 50p tax band. |
| • Mary Ann Sieghart in the Independent says David Cameron should now embrace the committee on standards in public life proposals in full. | • Mary Ann Sieghart in the Independent says David Cameron should now embrace the committee on standards in public life proposals in full. |
| After yesterday's embarrassment, though, maybe Cameron needs to be the one to claim political credit for reforming the system. He reacted more quickly than Gordon Brown to the MP' expenses scandal and the public rewarded him for it. Now he has a chance to do the same on party funding. His best hope of putting the Cruddas horrors behind him is to back Kelly in full, and ask us each for a paltry 50p a year to do so. It's cheap at the price. | After yesterday's embarrassment, though, maybe Cameron needs to be the one to claim political credit for reforming the system. He reacted more quickly than Gordon Brown to the MP' expenses scandal and the public rewarded him for it. Now he has a chance to do the same on party funding. His best hope of putting the Cruddas horrors behind him is to back Kelly in full, and ask us each for a paltry 50p a year to do so. It's cheap at the price. |
• Andrew Pierce in the Daily Mail profiles Peter Cruddas. | • Andrew Pierce in the Daily Mail profiles Peter Cruddas. |
| It is not just Mr Cruddas's language, and habit of boasting about his political and royal connections, which has disturbed many senior Tories. | It is not just Mr Cruddas's language, and habit of boasting about his political and royal connections, which has disturbed many senior Tories. |
| It is that he has left them vulnerable to attack once again. One senior Tory said: 'Cruddas was a likeable bloke but completely out of his depth. He was absolutely reckless in promising policy changes which he could not deliver. | It is that he has left them vulnerable to attack once again. One senior Tory said: 'Cruddas was a likeable bloke but completely out of his depth. He was absolutely reckless in promising policy changes which he could not deliver. |
| 'It's a disaster to have lost a second Tory treasurer so soon after the last one. The last thing we need are questions flying again over our treasurers.' | |
| • The Sun in its leader complains about wealthy people having undue influence over British politics. (Yes, I know, you have to laugh ....) | |
THE MPs expenses scandal proved politicians cannot be trusted to be honest and open about money. | THE MPs expenses scandal proved politicians cannot be trusted to be honest and open about money. |
| So the revelation that Tory treasurer Peter Cruddas offered rich potential donors access to David Cameron will only confirm the public's belief that Westminster is awash with charlatans and shysters. | So the revelation that Tory treasurer Peter Cruddas offered rich potential donors access to David Cameron will only confirm the public's belief that Westminster is awash with charlatans and shysters. |
| This is not some paltry wrangle over party funding. Allowing wealthy individuals or groups to lobby our leading politicians by waving a chequebook undermines democracy. | This is not some paltry wrangle over party funding. Allowing wealthy individuals or groups to lobby our leading politicians by waving a chequebook undermines democracy. |
| I'm off to the Number 10 lobby briefing now. I'll post again after 11.30am. | I'm off to the Number 10 lobby briefing now. I'll post again after 11.30am. |
| 10.38am: It's good to see that someone's having fun with the cash-for-access story. | 10.38am: It's good to see that someone's having fun with the cash-for-access story. |
| 10.32am: The Conservative party has eight different clubs for donors, ranging from one for those giving £50,000 a year (the Leader's Group) to one for those giving £50 a month (Party Patrons). We've got a full list of them here. | 10.32am: The Conservative party has eight different clubs for donors, ranging from one for those giving £50,000 a year (the Leader's Group) to one for those giving £50 a month (Party Patrons). We've got a full list of them here. |
| On BBC News this morning Sir Christopher Kelly (pictured), the chairman of the committee on standards in public life, said that these clubs should not offer access to politicians. | On BBC News this morning Sir Christopher Kelly (pictured), the chairman of the committee on standards in public life, said that these clubs should not offer access to politicians. |
| The truth is that, although all this controversy currently is about the Conservative party, in one form or another all the parties run donors clubs where quite publicly they're offering access in return for large donations, and that must be wrong. | The truth is that, although all this controversy currently is about the Conservative party, in one form or another all the parties run donors clubs where quite publicly they're offering access in return for large donations, and that must be wrong. |
| 10.28am: The Press Association have posted an obituary of Lord Newton by Chris Moncrieff. | 10.28am: The Press Association have posted an obituary of Lord Newton by Chris Moncrieff. |
| Here it is. | Here it is. |
| Lord Newton of Braintree, a former leader of the House of Commons, was said to be the only person, apart from the couple themselves, who was aware of the affair between Edwina Currie and John Major. It was a secret which he honoured. If word had ever got out, it is almost certain that Mr Major would never have become prime minister. Mrs Currie and Mr Major - as he then was - needed one, just one, trustworthy person to be aware of their relationship in the event of a crisis in the Commons when they had to be brought back to the House for a vote. Despite harbouring this explosive secret alone for so many years, until Mrs Currie revealed it in a book, Lord Newton steered clear of all the sleaze which dominated and tarnished John Major's administration. Indeed, he was once jocularly dubbed "a mud-free Tory who could rise clean to the top". Tony Newton entered the House of Commons in 1974 as MP for Braintree, a seat he represented until 1997 when he became Lord Newton of Braintree. He was educated at Trinity College, Oxford, and spent 14 years at the Conservative Central Office research department. His stay there was interrupted by an unsuccessful attempt in 1970 to capture the Labour stronghold of Sheffield Brightside. After his election in 1974, he became junior social security minister in 1982 and was promoted to minister for social security and the disabled in 1984 before switching to health minister in 1986. He was appointed social security secretary in 1989, and quickly gained a reputation as a doughty fighter for a department whose budget demands inevitably brought it into regular behind-the-scenes conflict with the Treasury. Previously, as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Mr Newton co-ordinated Mrs Thatcher's inner-city policies. Ultimately, in 1992, he became lord president of the council and leader of the House of Commons. His first marriage, by which he had two daughters, ended in divorce. He remarried in 1986. | Lord Newton of Braintree, a former leader of the House of Commons, was said to be the only person, apart from the couple themselves, who was aware of the affair between Edwina Currie and John Major. It was a secret which he honoured. If word had ever got out, it is almost certain that Mr Major would never have become prime minister. Mrs Currie and Mr Major - as he then was - needed one, just one, trustworthy person to be aware of their relationship in the event of a crisis in the Commons when they had to be brought back to the House for a vote. Despite harbouring this explosive secret alone for so many years, until Mrs Currie revealed it in a book, Lord Newton steered clear of all the sleaze which dominated and tarnished John Major's administration. Indeed, he was once jocularly dubbed "a mud-free Tory who could rise clean to the top". Tony Newton entered the House of Commons in 1974 as MP for Braintree, a seat he represented until 1997 when he became Lord Newton of Braintree. He was educated at Trinity College, Oxford, and spent 14 years at the Conservative Central Office research department. His stay there was interrupted by an unsuccessful attempt in 1970 to capture the Labour stronghold of Sheffield Brightside. After his election in 1974, he became junior social security minister in 1982 and was promoted to minister for social security and the disabled in 1984 before switching to health minister in 1986. He was appointed social security secretary in 1989, and quickly gained a reputation as a doughty fighter for a department whose budget demands inevitably brought it into regular behind-the-scenes conflict with the Treasury. Previously, as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Mr Newton co-ordinated Mrs Thatcher's inner-city policies. Ultimately, in 1992, he became lord president of the council and leader of the House of Commons. His first marriage, by which he had two daughters, ended in divorce. He remarried in 1986. |
| 10.21am: Earlier Francis Maude said that no country in the world would expect the prime minister to name the guests he or she invites for dinner on a private basis. (See 9.25am.) But they probably would in Sweden, according to Dan Shearer on Twitter. | 10.21am: Earlier Francis Maude said that no country in the world would expect the prime minister to name the guests he or she invites for dinner on a private basis. (See 9.25am.) But they probably would in Sweden, according to Dan Shearer on Twitter. |
| 10.19am: Michael Dugher, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, has been commenting on the cash-for-access affair for Labour. These are the main points he has been making. I've taken the quotes from PoliticsHome. | 10.19am: Michael Dugher, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, has been commenting on the cash-for-access affair for Labour. These are the main points he has been making. I've taken the quotes from PoliticsHome. |
| • Dugher said David Cameron should be "more forthcoming" about his meetings with Tory donors in his private flat. • He said there had to be an independent inquiry into the affair. | • Dugher said David Cameron should be "more forthcoming" about his meetings with Tory donors in his private flat. • He said there had to be an independent inquiry into the affair. |
| It's just not acceptable or credible for, in any way at all, the Conservative party to investigate themselves. It's really doing a News International - you remember with phone hacking last summer, News International said leave it with us, we'll have a look at it and come back to you - well that's not good enough. We need an independent inquiry. | It's just not acceptable or credible for, in any way at all, the Conservative party to investigate themselves. It's really doing a News International - you remember with phone hacking last summer, News International said leave it with us, we'll have a look at it and come back to you - well that's not good enough. We need an independent inquiry. |
| • He said that Labour was will to re-open talks about party funding reform, but that the party would want to retain the current system of union funding where union members have to opt out if they do not want to pay the political levy. | • He said that Labour was will to re-open talks about party funding reform, but that the party would want to retain the current system of union funding where union members have to opt out if they do not want to pay the political levy. |
| 10.00am: The Institute for Fiscal Studies has published an analysis of David Cameron's plans to introduce a minimum price for alcohol. It says that a 40pm minimum unit price would raise up to £850m for the drinks industry and that it would be better to force prices up by raising alcohol duty, so that the revenue benefits the Treasury. | 10.00am: The Institute for Fiscal Studies has published an analysis of David Cameron's plans to introduce a minimum price for alcohol. It says that a 40pm minimum unit price would raise up to £850m for the drinks industry and that it would be better to force prices up by raising alcohol duty, so that the revenue benefits the Treasury. |
| (If this is the case, can anyone explain why the drinks industry are so opposed to a minimum unit price?) | (If this is the case, can anyone explain why the drinks industry are so opposed to a minimum unit price?) |
| 9.48am: Lord Levy (pictured), the Labour fundraiser, told the Today programme that when he was raising money for the party, anyone giving £250,000 would have probably ended up having dinner with Tony Blair. But they would not have been invited to Number 10 or Chequers, he said. | 9.48am: Lord Levy (pictured), the Labour fundraiser, told the Today programme that when he was raising money for the party, anyone giving £250,000 would have probably ended up having dinner with Tony Blair. But they would not have been invited to Number 10 or Chequers, he said. |
| I would have said you'd have expected to have met [Blair] for dinner, but at a private home and that would have been a social dinner ... No dinners would take place at Number 10 or at Chequers and that is a key difference. | I would have said you'd have expected to have met [Blair] for dinner, but at a private home and that would have been a social dinner ... No dinners would take place at Number 10 or at Chequers and that is a key difference. |
| He also said that when he was raising money for Labour offering donors the opportunity to influence policy was "absolutely banned". | He also said that when he was raising money for Labour offering donors the opportunity to influence policy was "absolutely banned". |
| I've taken the quotes from PoliticsHome. | I've taken the quotes from PoliticsHome. |
| 9.41am: Rupert Murdoch (pictured), that great beacon of propriety in public life, has been pronouncing on the cash-for-access scandal on Twitter. Here are his thoughts. | 9.41am: Rupert Murdoch (pictured), that great beacon of propriety in public life, has been pronouncing on the cash-for-access scandal on Twitter. Here are his thoughts. |
| Great Sunday Times scoop. What was Cameron thinking? No-one, rightly or wrongly, will believe his story. | Great Sunday Times scoop. What was Cameron thinking? No-one, rightly or wrongly, will believe his story. |
| Cameron should have just followed history and flogged some seats in the Lords, if they still have value! precedents of centuries . | Cameron should have just followed history and flogged some seats in the Lords, if they still have value! precedents of centuries . |
| Of course there must be a full independent inquiry on both sides. In great detail, and with consequences. Trust must be established. | Of course there must be a full independent inquiry on both sides. In great detail, and with consequences. Trust must be established. |
| Without trust, democracy, and order will go. | Without trust, democracy, and order will go. |
| 9.36am: Lord Newton, the former Tory social security secretary and leader of the Commons, has died. Here's what the Press Association have filed. | 9.36am: Lord Newton, the former Tory social security secretary and leader of the Commons, has died. Here's what the Press Association have filed. |
| Former Commons leader Lord Newton of Braintree has died at the age of 74, his family announced today. Tony Newton became Tory MP for Braintree, Essex, in 1974, holding on to the seat for 23 years before being made a peer. He began his Government career in the Whips' office and held a number of ministerial roles under Margaret Thatcher. They included a stint as health minister, an area in which he retained a keen interest over his political career, contributing to debates in the Upper Chamber over the controversial Health and Social Care Bill in recent weeks. In 1989 he was made social security secretary and three years later was appointed Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons. He died yesterday afternoon in Colchester Hospital following a long illness. He is survived by wife Patricia, two daughters, Polly and Jessica, three stepchildren, Robin, Emma and Sukie, and four grandchildren. In a statement, his family said: "In spite of his worsening health, he was determined to carry on contributing to public life right up until the last few days. "He was a remarkable man and we will miss him very much." | Former Commons leader Lord Newton of Braintree has died at the age of 74, his family announced today. Tony Newton became Tory MP for Braintree, Essex, in 1974, holding on to the seat for 23 years before being made a peer. He began his Government career in the Whips' office and held a number of ministerial roles under Margaret Thatcher. They included a stint as health minister, an area in which he retained a keen interest over his political career, contributing to debates in the Upper Chamber over the controversial Health and Social Care Bill in recent weeks. In 1989 he was made social security secretary and three years later was appointed Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons. He died yesterday afternoon in Colchester Hospital following a long illness. He is survived by wife Patricia, two daughters, Polly and Jessica, three stepchildren, Robin, Emma and Sukie, and four grandchildren. In a statement, his family said: "In spite of his worsening health, he was determined to carry on contributing to public life right up until the last few days. "He was a remarkable man and we will miss him very much." |
| 9.25am: Here's more from the Francis Maude interview on the Today programme. I've taken the quotes from PoliticsHome. | 9.25am: Here's more from the Francis Maude interview on the Today programme. I've taken the quotes from PoliticsHome. |
| • Maude said there was "nothing remotely improper" about political parties having clubs for donors offering access to politicians. | • Maude said there was "nothing remotely improper" about political parties having clubs for donors offering access to politicians. |
| We've always been very open about that. There's so secret about it. You would join the Leader's Group, and the Leader's Group have periodic dinners with the prime minister and other leader figures. There's nothing remotely improper about that, or new, and all parties do that. | We've always been very open about that. There's so secret about it. You would join the Leader's Group, and the Leader's Group have periodic dinners with the prime minister and other leader figures. There's nothing remotely improper about that, or new, and all parties do that. |
• He rejected claims that donors could buy influence. "The idea that Conservative donors can by themselves influence policy is absurd," he said. "It's just not true." Anyone could suggest ideas to the government, he said. | • He rejected claims that donors could buy influence. "The idea that Conservative donors can by themselves influence policy is absurd," he said. "It's just not true." Anyone could suggest ideas to the government, he said. |
| • He said it was unreasonable to expect David Cameron to identify all his dinner guests. "Nobody has ever suggested that in any country in the world," he said. Events for donors, like those organised by the Leader's Group, were quite different from events in Cameron's private life "where he and his wife have friends to supper." | • He said it was unreasonable to expect David Cameron to identify all his dinner guests. "Nobody has ever suggested that in any country in the world," he said. Events for donors, like those organised by the Leader's Group, were quite different from events in Cameron's private life "where he and his wife have friends to supper." |
| • He dismissed the idea that donors could buy dinner in Cameron's private flat as "nonsense". | • He dismissed the idea that donors could buy dinner in Cameron's private flat as "nonsense". |
| 9.00am: Oh dear. With the Conservative cash-for-access row all over the papers, Francis Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, was given the job of appearing on the Today programme in the 8.10 slot to hold back the deluge - and he failed dismally. He could not give Evan Davis a good answer to his question about why David Cameron would not publish the names of all Tory donors he has entertained in his Number 10 flat and at one stage he appeared to dismiss the issue as "nonsense". I'll post more from the interview shortly. At 8.30am there's normally a routine strategy meeting at Downing Street. They certainly need a strategy today, because at the moment it feels as if they are on the run. | 9.00am: Oh dear. With the Conservative cash-for-access row all over the papers, Francis Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, was given the job of appearing on the Today programme in the 8.10 slot to hold back the deluge - and he failed dismally. He could not give Evan Davis a good answer to his question about why David Cameron would not publish the names of all Tory donors he has entertained in his Number 10 flat and at one stage he appeared to dismiss the issue as "nonsense". I'll post more from the interview shortly. At 8.30am there's normally a routine strategy meeting at Downing Street. They certainly need a strategy today, because at the moment it feels as if they are on the run. |
| I'll be following all the developments in this story through the day. Here are the issues to follow closely. | I'll be following all the developments in this story through the day. Here are the issues to follow closely. |
| An inquiry: Labour want a full, independent inquiry. The Tories have launched an internal inquiry, but they have already had to accept that it won't be led by Lord Feldman, the Conservative co-chairman. My guess - and it's only a guess - is that they will appoint an independent-(ish) figure to take charge. Perhaps someone is ringing around pro-Tory QCs already. | An inquiry: Labour want a full, independent inquiry. The Tories have launched an internal inquiry, but they have already had to accept that it won't be led by Lord Feldman, the Conservative co-chairman. My guess - and it's only a guess - is that they will appoint an independent-(ish) figure to take charge. Perhaps someone is ringing around pro-Tory QCs already. |
| A Commons statement?: Ed Miliband wants Cameron to make a statement in the Commons. You would not normally expect a Commons statement, on an issue like this, but John Bercow, the Speaker, seems to enjoy making life difficult for ministers and it is conceivable that he could grant an urgent question on this. | A Commons statement?: Ed Miliband wants Cameron to make a statement in the Commons. You would not normally expect a Commons statement, on an issue like this, but John Bercow, the Speaker, seems to enjoy making life difficult for ministers and it is conceivable that he could grant an urgent question on this. |
| A police inquiry?: Mark Adams, the whistleblower who triggered the Sunday Times investigation, confirmed this morning that he has asked the police to investigate because he thought yesterday's revelations suggested that in the past the Tories have flouted the law banning political donations from foreigners. Given what happened to the cash-for-honours investigation, the police reaction to this can probably involves the words "hole" and "head". But they have said they are assessing the allegation. | A police inquiry?: Mark Adams, the whistleblower who triggered the Sunday Times investigation, confirmed this morning that he has asked the police to investigate because he thought yesterday's revelations suggested that in the past the Tories have flouted the law banning political donations from foreigners. Given what happened to the cash-for-honours investigation, the police reaction to this can probably involves the words "hole" and "head". But they have said they are assessing the allegation. |
| Party funding talks: In response to yesterday's allegations, these are being revived. But the parties have already spend six years trying to reach a deal on this without making progress. | Party funding talks: In response to yesterday's allegations, these are being revived. But the parties have already spend six years trying to reach a deal on this without making progress. |
| I will also be keeping an eye on other political developments today - Cameron is giving a speech on demential at 11.45am which he will use announce that funding for demential research will be doubled, reaching £66m by 2015 - but mostly I will be focusing on cash-for-access. I'll post a lunchtime summary at around 1pm and another in the afternoon. | I will also be keeping an eye on other political developments today - Cameron is giving a speech on demential at 11.45am which he will use announce that funding for demential research will be doubled, reaching £66m by 2015 - but mostly I will be focusing on cash-for-access. I'll post a lunchtime summary at around 1pm and another in the afternoon. |
| If you want to follow me on Twitter, I'm on @AndrewSparrow. | If you want to follow me on Twitter, I'm on @AndrewSparrow. |
| And if you're a hardcore fan, you can follow @gdnpoliticslive. It's an automated feed that tweets the start of every new post that I put on the blog. | And if you're a hardcore fan, you can follow @gdnpoliticslive. It's an automated feed that tweets the start of every new post that I put on the blog. |