Tomorrow's Sunday Mirror has news of an official investigation into how the biggest donor to Cameron's Tories bankrolls the Conservatives from the foreign tax haven of Belize.
If his donations are found to be unlawful, Cameron's Conservatives could be ordered to pay back almost £5 million which Ashcroft targets on key marginal seats at the next General Election.
UPDATE: The Sunday Times also has more on the story.
It seems the Electoral Commission began its investigation some months ago, after the Sunday Times revealed that £4.79m had been transferred via a chain of companies from Belize, the Central American tax haven, to Bearwood Corporate Services (BCS), a British company said to be controlled by Ashcroft.
Of course, it might all be very innocent and above board...
Showing posts with label Lord Ashcroft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lord Ashcroft. Show all posts
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Monday, September 29, 2008
Time for David Cameron to come clean on donations...
Tonight's Channel Four expose put David Cameron under serious scrutiny over the secrecy and sources of millions of pounds in donations which bankroll his bid to become Prime Minister.
Despite Cameron's spin and withering claims that he promotes 'openness and transparency', Cameron stands accused of blatant hypocrisy and repeatedly refusing to answer legitimate questions surrounding Lord Ashcroft's status.
For example, Lord Ashcroft made a clear pledge to return to live permanently in Britain when he was made a Conservative Life Peer eight years ago. But is the man who is pouring literally millions into key marginal seats for the purposes of influencing voters resident in the UK. Is he even on the electoral register in this country and if he is, how long has he been so?
The Dispatches investigation raised concerns about where Lord Ashcroft's Bearwood Corporate Services makes its money.
For example, does Bearwood generate all the revenue it uses in the UK to fund the Tories? Or are foreign profits being channelled to the Tories via Bearwood through a string of 'shell' companies?
Another Tory peer, Lord Laidlaw gave firm undertakings to normalise his tax status within the UK before he was awarded his peerage. He has failed to do so and now lives in Monaco...but Cameron's Tories still take donations from him.
Same Old Tories eh...?
UPDATE: If you missed tonight's Dispatches investigation - or want to see it again -you can catch it HERE at the C4 site where it will be posted for the next month.
Despite Cameron's spin and withering claims that he promotes 'openness and transparency', Cameron stands accused of blatant hypocrisy and repeatedly refusing to answer legitimate questions surrounding Lord Ashcroft's status.
For example, Lord Ashcroft made a clear pledge to return to live permanently in Britain when he was made a Conservative Life Peer eight years ago. But is the man who is pouring literally millions into key marginal seats for the purposes of influencing voters resident in the UK. Is he even on the electoral register in this country and if he is, how long has he been so?
The Dispatches investigation raised concerns about where Lord Ashcroft's Bearwood Corporate Services makes its money.
For example, does Bearwood generate all the revenue it uses in the UK to fund the Tories? Or are foreign profits being channelled to the Tories via Bearwood through a string of 'shell' companies?
Another Tory peer, Lord Laidlaw gave firm undertakings to normalise his tax status within the UK before he was awarded his peerage. He has failed to do so and now lives in Monaco...but Cameron's Tories still take donations from him.
Same Old Tories eh...?
UPDATE: If you missed tonight's Dispatches investigation - or want to see it again -you can catch it HERE at the C4 site where it will be posted for the next month.
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