Tories urged to reveal funding
LABOUR and Liberal Democrat candidates in the Westcountry have stepped up pressure on their Tory opponents to "come clean" about receiving central funding from Lord Ashcroft to fight the election.
It comes after the Western Morning News revealed yesterday how Lib-Dem candidates – and their families – had donated thousands of pounds to local party coffers last year, in an attempt to take on the millions from Tory central office.
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Dan Rogerson
Charlotte Mackenzie, Labour candidate for the new seat of Truro and Falmouth, challenged her Tory opponent Sarah Newton over the revelation Lord Ashcroft was non-domiciled for tax purposes.
"Instead of paying tens of millions of pounds in tax – money that might have helped to fund Cornish schools and hospitals – Lord Ashcroft chose to spend the money on Conservative political campaigns instead," Ms Mackenzie said.
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Lee Jameson, Labour candidate in St Austell and Newquay, added: "I won't allow my fight for a fair future for people in Cornwall to be bought off by a billionaire from Belize."
Steve Gilbert, Lib-Dem candidate in St Austell and Newquay, said: "It's time Cornwall Conservatives came clean and told us how much of Lord Ashcroft's money they are using to try and buy the election results here in Cornwall."
Westcountry Conservatives have made clear they received funding from head office, as all parties do, but since 2006 none have had direct funding from Lord Ashcroft's Bearwood firm.
But Dan Rogerson, Lib-Dem MP for North Cornwall, said: "Lord Ashcroft has withheld untold sums from the public purse, while filling Tory coffers to the tune of millions of pounds. Having been born and brought up in Cornwall, I know local people will be shocked at this naked attempt to buy seats for new candidates."
In the Westcountry, Bearwood donated more than £60,000 in 2004 and 2005, including £15,000 in Torridge and West Devon, which the Tories won from the Lib-Dems. Seats held by the Lib-Dems to receive Bearwood cash include £12,000 in Taunton, £5,000 in South East Cornwall and £25,000 in Teignbridge, according to the Electoral Commission website.
Yesterday, an influential group of MPs confirmed it is to press ahead with a probe into Lord Ashcroft's peerage and will invite him to give evidence.
Public Administration Select Committee chairman Tony Wright said the inquiry had received cross-party backing at a meeting, despite Conservative MPs, including Bridgwater's Ian Liddell-Grainger, previously threatening to boycott it.
The Cabinet Office will also be asked to release records of discussions concerning undertakings given by Lord Ashcroft before he was made a peer in 2000.
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by Mikey, Kernow
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 12:37PM
“@ Big Ger, Truro
MK all the way! :)
Oddly enough MK is one of the few political parties not in debt, unlike the massive debts totted up by the "main" parties.”
by Big Ger, Trur
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 9:36AM
“LABOUR and Liberal Democrat candidates in the Westcountry have stepped up pressure on their Mebyon Kernow opponents to "come clean" about receiving any funding at all, from anyone.
It comes after the Fortean Times revealed yesterday how MK candidates ¿ and their families ¿ had donated almost a pound to local party coffers last year, in an attempt to buy a new bumper sticker for Sid and Doris Bonker's "MK Party Mobile HQ" (Sid's clapped out VW campervan.)
Eric Bonkers, Sid and Doris's son, who is MK¿s party manager, treasurer, chairman, press officer, election officer, environment spokesman, and office cleaner for St Austell, Newquay, Truro, Saltash, and everywhere west of Hayle, added:
"I won't allow my fight for a fair future for people in Cornwall to be bought off by a billionaire from Belize. He can buy me off instead, I'm going to the pub to get hammered, just like I do in every election."”
by Big Ger, Truro
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 9:24AM
“LABOUR and Liberal Democrat candidates in the Westcountry have stepped up pressure on their Mebyon Kernow opponents to "come clean" about receiving any funding at all, from anyone.
It comes after the Fortean Times revealed yesterday how MK candidates ¿ and their families ¿ had donated almost a pound to local party coffers last year, in an attempt to buy a new bumper sticker for Sid and Doris Bonker's "MK Party Mobile HQ" (Sid's clapped out VW campervan.)
Eric Bonkers, Sid and Doris's son, who is MK¿s party manager, treasurer, chairman, press officer, election officer, environment spokesman, and office cleaner for St Austell, Newquay, Truro, Saltash, and everywhere west of Hayle, added:
"I won't allow my fight for a fair future for people in Cornwall to be bought off by a billionaire from Belize. He can buy me off instead, I'm going to the pub to get hammered, just like I do in every election."”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 9:06AM
“:| And he still pays more UK TAX annually than many people earn Gross in their entire lives. . "Ain't that the truth!"”
by Tom, Plymouth
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 11:39PM
“No one gives a monkeys about some rich gits tax affairs and it shows how desperate Labour are to drag out a non story. What does matter is that Labour have been the worst government in history and will be duly ejected on May 6th.”
by Ian, South Brent
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 8:25PM
“"Lee Jameson, Labour candidate in St Austell and Newquay, added: "I won't allow my fight for a fair future for people in Cornwall to be bought off by a billionaire from Belize." "
No let them get screwed by the Scottish Mafia first.”
by Caroline, North Cornwall
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 3:09PM
“Chris, just have to disagree with you. Gordon Brown has massively increased this country's debt. I don't call that running the country.”
by Chris Cox, Par
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 1:43PM
“I've had them knocking on the door. Sending me personal messages in the mail. Now I know how they are getting the money to do it. All their rich non-dom friends. Doesn't matter though, in my case, because I would never vote for them.
David Cameron's fake smile betrays his ambition to help his rich friends and wreck the country, the way Maggie Thatcher did. No way, never.
I'm very worried that the "great unwashed" will fall for his lies though, without analysing his policies and seeing through the fake smile. Let's hope not, eh?
Gordon Brown maybe an ugly scotsman with the charisma of a lettuce, but at least he can run the country and save the economy.”
by Caroline, North Cornwall
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 1:29PM
“Before you dismiss all parties, please come and look at UKIP. It is steadily growing, was popular at the EU elections beating both labour and lib dem in Cornwall and has a good range of well researched policies.
http://www.ukip.org/content/ukip-policies”
by Steve Lynham, Penzance
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 1:28PM
“So it is alleged that this resident of Belize avoided paying tax in the UK and is using that saved money to fund the Tories. Therefore, it appears that in reality it is the British taxpayer (most of us) who is funding the Tories.
Can I have my share of this donation back please? Why would i want to fund a party that will cripple the UK economy, leading to austerity for all citizens except their wealthy chums, and who will allow animals to be ripped apart for 'fun' (I think the cowards who do it call it "sport" so maybe we should have a new Olympics called the "Cowards Olympics" and include foxhunting, hare coursing., killing anyone's pet which happens to be in the way).
I notice that if you type "lips" on a phone keypad it spells "kiss" (two related words) so why doesn't it spell "sleaze" when I type "Tories"? Sleaze as in the past: Archer, Aitkin etc.”