Menu
29/11/2007
Labour Donations Row Moves To Commons As Harman Grilled
The row over donations to the Labour party continues today with the party's Deputy Leader, Harriet Harman being put on the spot over alleged unlawful donations when she faces MPs.
The donations row was prompted by the news that property developer David Abrahams had given more than £650,000 to Labour under other people's names – which breaks the rules on donations and has even prompted calls from the Lib Dems and Tories for a police investigation.
Ms Harman said she took "in good faith" £5,000 from Janet Kidd without knowing it was actually Mr Abrahams' money.
She will face MPs for her weekly grilling as Leader of the House of Commons.
The Conservatives have a series of questions they want to ask Ms Harman about whether she knew the money was from Mr Abrahams and how the donation to her deputy leadership campaign came to be offered.
Yesterday, Gordon Brown came to her defence on Wednesday saying there was not "one iota" of evidence that she knew about the donation's true origins before Saturday.
But her position was not helped by the revelation that her fellow deputy leadership contender, Hilary Benn, rejected a donation from Janet Kidd after being told by one of his team, Baroness Jay, that the money was actually from Mr Abrahams.
Mr Abrahams, who says he donated money under other people's names to protect his privacy and did not know it broke laws, then agreed to give money to Mr Benn in his own name instead.
(BMcC)
The donations row was prompted by the news that property developer David Abrahams had given more than £650,000 to Labour under other people's names – which breaks the rules on donations and has even prompted calls from the Lib Dems and Tories for a police investigation.
Ms Harman said she took "in good faith" £5,000 from Janet Kidd without knowing it was actually Mr Abrahams' money.
She will face MPs for her weekly grilling as Leader of the House of Commons.
The Conservatives have a series of questions they want to ask Ms Harman about whether she knew the money was from Mr Abrahams and how the donation to her deputy leadership campaign came to be offered.
Yesterday, Gordon Brown came to her defence on Wednesday saying there was not "one iota" of evidence that she knew about the donation's true origins before Saturday.
But her position was not helped by the revelation that her fellow deputy leadership contender, Hilary Benn, rejected a donation from Janet Kidd after being told by one of his team, Baroness Jay, that the money was actually from Mr Abrahams.
Mr Abrahams, who says he donated money under other people's names to protect his privacy and did not know it broke laws, then agreed to give money to Mr Benn in his own name instead.
(BMcC)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
27 November 2007
PM Confirms Return Of Labour Donations
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has confirmed that money donated to the Labour anonymously by property developer David Abrahams would be returned. Speaking at his monthly press conference, Mr Brown said that £600,000 worth of donations from Mr Abrahams would be returned because they were not "lawfully declared".
PM Confirms Return Of Labour Donations
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has confirmed that money donated to the Labour anonymously by property developer David Abrahams would be returned. Speaking at his monthly press conference, Mr Brown said that £600,000 worth of donations from Mr Abrahams would be returned because they were not "lawfully declared".
03 December 2007
More Questions Than Answers On Labour Party Donations
The Government is to have no respite from the growing chorus of questions on party funding activities. Opposition parties have continued to maintain pressure on the Labour party funding issue, demanding to be told who knew about donations to the party.
More Questions Than Answers On Labour Party Donations
The Government is to have no respite from the growing chorus of questions on party funding activities. Opposition parties have continued to maintain pressure on the Labour party funding issue, demanding to be told who knew about donations to the party.
30 November 2007
Police To Investigate Labour Donations
The Metropolitan Police is to investigate donations made to the Labour Party, it has been announced. The investigation was launched after it emerged that property developer David Abrahams had given more than £650,000 to Labour via middlemen.
Police To Investigate Labour Donations
The Metropolitan Police is to investigate donations made to the Labour Party, it has been announced. The investigation was launched after it emerged that property developer David Abrahams had given more than £650,000 to Labour via middlemen.
11 February 2015
Labour Criticised For 'Sexist' Campaign Bus
The Labour Party has been criticised following the launch a pink minibus, which will transport female MPs around the UK to talk to female voters "around the kitchen table". The party's deputy leader, Harriet Harman, has defended the pink 'Woman to Woman' bus against accusations of it being patronising and sexist.
Labour Criticised For 'Sexist' Campaign Bus
The Labour Party has been criticised following the launch a pink minibus, which will transport female MPs around the UK to talk to female voters "around the kitchen table". The party's deputy leader, Harriet Harman, has defended the pink 'Woman to Woman' bus against accusations of it being patronising and sexist.
25 January 2008
Devolution Of Further Power In Wales Opposed
Following the resignation of Peter Hain, who quit after his deputy leadership campaign donations were referred to the police, another former NI Secretary of State, Paul Murphy has returned to the position he held for three years as Welsh Secretary, and straight into problems.
Devolution Of Further Power In Wales Opposed
Following the resignation of Peter Hain, who quit after his deputy leadership campaign donations were referred to the police, another former NI Secretary of State, Paul Murphy has returned to the position he held for three years as Welsh Secretary, and straight into problems.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
