SF Hits Out After Tories Block Move To Reveal Brexit Donation To DUP

Sinn Féin's Paul Maskey has hit out after Tory MPs voted against a move to reveal the source of a £425,000 donation to the DUP during the EU referendum campaign.

Despite the Transparency of Donations and Loans Order 2018 passing at Westminster, political donations dating back to 2014 will not be published, meaning details of donations made during the Brexit campaign will remain a secret.

Mr Maskey said the Tory's collusion with the DUP "will not go unnoticed amongst the general public".

"In Westminster Tory and DUP MPs voted to allow the DUP to continue covering up the source of shady donations, and excuses the DUP from revealing the source of the £435,000 of dark money received during the Brexit referendum, and all donations received during the RHI period," the West Belfast MP said.

"This coincidence will not go unnoticed amongst the general public, who will see this exemption as another shady product of the DUP-Tory pact."

Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA, who secured the original legislation to pave the way for transparency on political donations to parties, said she was disappointed at the decision.

"Alliance has led the way on donor transparency, but today's action ensures other parties can now hide their donors between 2014 and 2017," she said.

"Others have talked about supporting donor transparency, with some even making commitments in various manifestos, but their actions have failed to live up to their pledges.

"For as long as secrecy remains around donations, allegations of corruption and cronyism will continue to poison public confidence in politics. The only way to deal with that is to meet the public desire for openness in politics, which has never been higher.

"The MPs who voted today to keep things secret will have to explain their actions to the public who have little faith in politics to act for the greater good, rather than personal or party interest."

(LM/MH)