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Labour Engulfed in Donations Scandals PDF Print E-mail
Written by Alex Salmond   
Thursday, 16 March 2006
Alex Salmond MPSNP Leader Alex Salmond MP today (Thursday) questioned the Leader of the House, Geoff Hoon MP, again over the issue of donations for peerages after today\'s revelations that the Labour Party\'s elected Treasurer, Jack Dromey, had called in the Electoral Commission and revealing he was not told about secret loans made to the party.
Alex Salmond MP
Alex Salmond MP
Mr Salmond's question followed on from his questions last week concerning revelations that Chai Patel of the Priory Group had written to the Appointments Commission asking if he has been vetted for a peerage in light of his donations to the Labour party. Since then he has revealed making donations which would not have to be declared.

Mr Salmond said:

"Last week Geoff Hoon said this issue had not come up on his political antennae. With his own party Treasurer - an elected Treasurer - bringing in outside bodies to investigate loans to the Labour party he did not know about, I think the Leader of the House must be regretting those remarks.

"This is a huge scandal engulfing the Labour party. With nearly 80 pence in the every pound given to the Labour Party coming from benefactors who have been honoured, it is no wonder their backbenchers and now elected officials are panicking.

"Official records show that everyone who has donated more than £1 million to the Labour Party has received a knighthood or peerage. It is an incredible abuse of the system and shows why New Labour don't want to abolish the House of Lords. They make a fortune selling peerages.

"Pressure is now building up for a Parliamentary debate or statement by the Prime Minister on an issue that would even make Lloyd George blush."

ENDS

Last Updated ( Thursday, 16 March 2006 )
 
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