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Prime minister's private dinners net Tories £700,000 Prime minister's private dinners net Tories £700,000
(7 months later)
The Conservatives were accused on Wednesday of taking cash for access to the heart of government, after it emerged that 19 donors attended private dinners with the prime minister, the chancellor and other senior ministers between September and December last year.The Conservatives were accused on Wednesday of taking cash for access to the heart of government, after it emerged that 19 donors attended private dinners with the prime minister, the chancellor and other senior ministers between September and December last year.
The benefactors, including some Tory peers and several business leaders already associated with the party, gave between £2,500 and £250,000 each in the last three months of the year, adding up to a total of more than £700,000.The benefactors, including some Tory peers and several business leaders already associated with the party, gave between £2,500 and £250,000 each in the last three months of the year, adding up to a total of more than £700,000.
They included Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover, the City financier and party treasurer Michael Farmer, and JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford.They included Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover, the City financier and party treasurer Michael Farmer, and JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford.
The names have emerged less than a year after the party co-treasurer, Peter Cruddas, resigned after the emergence of footage in which he apparently boasted to undercover reporters that donors could get access to the prime minister for £250,000.The names have emerged less than a year after the party co-treasurer, Peter Cruddas, resigned after the emergence of footage in which he apparently boasted to undercover reporters that donors could get access to the prime minister for £250,000.
Responding to the latest names, compiled from lists of official dinners published by the Conservative party and party donations published by the Electoral Commission, Michael Dugher, Labour vice-chair, said: "It seems the Tories have learned nothing from the 'cash for Cameron' scandal. While millions of families around the country are paying more, the millionaires who bankroll the Tory party and get to go for dinners with David Cameron are people who will receive a tax cut in April. We now know why David Cameron is so out of touch and why he consistently stands up for the wrong people."Responding to the latest names, compiled from lists of official dinners published by the Conservative party and party donations published by the Electoral Commission, Michael Dugher, Labour vice-chair, said: "It seems the Tories have learned nothing from the 'cash for Cameron' scandal. While millions of families around the country are paying more, the millionaires who bankroll the Tory party and get to go for dinners with David Cameron are people who will receive a tax cut in April. We now know why David Cameron is so out of touch and why he consistently stands up for the wrong people."
After the revelations last March, Cameron ordered an inquiry and review of his party's funding rules, and described the Cruddas incident as "completely unacceptable", promising "I'll make sure ... this can't happen again".After the revelations last March, Cameron ordered an inquiry and review of his party's funding rules, and described the Cruddas incident as "completely unacceptable", promising "I'll make sure ... this can't happen again".
On Wednesday the Conservative party put out a statement saying: "All donations to the Conservative party are fully and transparently declared to the Electoral Commission."On Wednesday the Conservative party put out a statement saying: "All donations to the Conservative party are fully and transparently declared to the Electoral Commission."
A summary of the Electoral Commission figures shows that in the full year last year the Conservatives received £13.8m in donations (down from £14.2m in 2011), Labour's total rose slightly to £12m and the Liberal Democrats took in £2.5m, a significant drop from more than £4m the year before.A summary of the Electoral Commission figures shows that in the full year last year the Conservatives received £13.8m in donations (down from £14.2m in 2011), Labour's total rose slightly to £12m and the Liberal Democrats took in £2.5m, a significant drop from more than £4m the year before.
In addition, there were £8.8m of payments from public funds to a total of six parties, the vast majority of that money to Labour (£7.4m), with Lib Dems getting nearly half a million pounds, the Scottish National Party £329,540, and Tories just over £311,000.In addition, there were £8.8m of payments from public funds to a total of six parties, the vast majority of that money to Labour (£7.4m), with Lib Dems getting nearly half a million pounds, the Scottish National Party £329,540, and Tories just over £311,000.
The three biggest private donations in the last quarter of 2012 were all to the Labour party from unions – Unite, Unison and GMB – and the Communication Workers Union's donation to Labour was number seven in the top 10.The three biggest private donations in the last quarter of 2012 were all to the Labour party from unions – Unite, Unison and GMB – and the Communication Workers Union's donation to Labour was number seven in the top 10.
Labour said most of its individual donations were small sums from party members and supporters.Labour said most of its individual donations were small sums from party members and supporters.
Although donors who give £1,000 or more are invited to special receptions, which can be attended by the party leader, Ed Miliband, party sources said that these were very different from the private dinners hosted by top Tories.Although donors who give £1,000 or more are invited to special receptions, which can be attended by the party leader, Ed Miliband, party sources said that these were very different from the private dinners hosted by top Tories.
Former Labour leader Tony Blair suffered one of the most embarrassing rows over political donations just months after becoming prime minister in 1997, when the government gave an exemption to Formula 1 from a ban on tobacco advertising in the same year as F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone donated £1m to the party.Former Labour leader Tony Blair suffered one of the most embarrassing rows over political donations just months after becoming prime minister in 1997, when the government gave an exemption to Formula 1 from a ban on tobacco advertising in the same year as F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone donated £1m to the party.
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