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Lib Dem Ibrahim Taguri quits party amid donation claims | Lib Dem Ibrahim Taguri quits party amid donation claims |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A former head of fundraising for the Liberal Democrats has said he will step down as a party candidate after a newspaper claimed he had accepted a "potentially illegal donation". | A former head of fundraising for the Liberal Democrats has said he will step down as a party candidate after a newspaper claimed he had accepted a "potentially illegal donation". |
The Daily Telegraph said an undercover reporter posed as an Indian businessman to approach Ibrahim Taguri. | The Daily Telegraph said an undercover reporter posed as an Indian businessman to approach Ibrahim Taguri. |
It said Mr Taguri advised the fake businessman on how he could give more than £7,500 to the party but get around rules about publicly declaring it. | It said Mr Taguri advised the fake businessman on how he could give more than £7,500 to the party but get around rules about publicly declaring it. |
Mr Taguri denies any wrongdoing. | Mr Taguri denies any wrongdoing. |
The Lib Dems said they had not accepted an illegal donation and had referred the matter to the Electoral Commission. | The Lib Dems said they had not accepted an illegal donation and had referred the matter to the Electoral Commission. |
Electoral Commission rules mean any single donation to a political party of more than £7,500 must be declared, and multiple donations from an individual that exceed that amount within a year must also be reported. | Electoral Commission rules mean any single donation to a political party of more than £7,500 must be declared, and multiple donations from an individual that exceed that amount within a year must also be reported. |
The Telegraph claims Mr Taguri, who was appointed as the Lib Dem "race equality champion" earlier this year, tried to get around these rules. | The Telegraph claims Mr Taguri, who was appointed as the Lib Dem "race equality champion" earlier this year, tried to get around these rules. |
It alleges that he told the undercover reporter he could make donations in the name of his cousins or backdate cheques so it appeared money had been given in different years. | It alleges that he told the undercover reporter he could make donations in the name of his cousins or backdate cheques so it appeared money had been given in different years. |
The paper also says Mr Taguri arranged a private meeting between the would-be donor and Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury. | The paper also says Mr Taguri arranged a private meeting between the would-be donor and Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury. |
'Happy to co-operate' | 'Happy to co-operate' |
Mr Taguri had been selected to stand for the Lib Dems to replace departing MP Sarah Teather in the London constituency of Brent Central. | Mr Taguri had been selected to stand for the Lib Dems to replace departing MP Sarah Teather in the London constituency of Brent Central. |
But in a statement, he said he would step down as a parliamentary candidate and from his Lib Dem race equality role while the claims against him were investigated. | But in a statement, he said he would step down as a parliamentary candidate and from his Lib Dem race equality role while the claims against him were investigated. |
"I will continue my campaign to become the next MP for Brent Central as an independent candidate with the intention of achieving the one thing I entered politics to do, to end child poverty in the UK by 2020," he said. | "I will continue my campaign to become the next MP for Brent Central as an independent candidate with the intention of achieving the one thing I entered politics to do, to end child poverty in the UK by 2020," he said. |
"I look forward to clearing my name and returning to the Liberal Democrats." | "I look forward to clearing my name and returning to the Liberal Democrats." |
He said he was "happy to co-operate with any investigation" and "confident that I will be exonerated of all the claims made against me". | He said he was "happy to co-operate with any investigation" and "confident that I will be exonerated of all the claims made against me". |
"I am capable of demonstrating that I have gone above and beyond the legal requirements in the interests of transparency," he added. | "I am capable of demonstrating that I have gone above and beyond the legal requirements in the interests of transparency," he added. |
'Checks and procedures' | 'Checks and procedures' |
According to the BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith, the Lib Dems expect to put up a candidate to stand against Mr Taguri. | |
And the Lib Dems have said the party had "not accepted any improper or illegal donations". | |
The cheque from the undercover reporter had arrived at the campaign office in Brent but had not been handed to the party or banked, the party said. | The cheque from the undercover reporter had arrived at the campaign office in Brent but had not been handed to the party or banked, the party said. |
A spokeswoman said the donation "would have been subject to a series of checks and procedures to ensure it met all legal requirements" if it had been received. | A spokeswoman said the donation "would have been subject to a series of checks and procedures to ensure it met all legal requirements" if it had been received. |
"We firmly reject any suggestion that Danny Alexander or any other Liberal Democrat parliamentarian has acted in any way improperly," she said. | "We firmly reject any suggestion that Danny Alexander or any other Liberal Democrat parliamentarian has acted in any way improperly," she said. |
"Ibrahim Taguri has rightly stood down as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Brent Central and from any formal role within the party. | "Ibrahim Taguri has rightly stood down as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Brent Central and from any formal role within the party. |
"We have now referred this matter to the Electoral Commission to determine whether any wrongdoing has been committed." | "We have now referred this matter to the Electoral Commission to determine whether any wrongdoing has been committed." |