More loans and donations sleaze

1.12.04pm GMT Fri 18th Aug 2006

Money

The Electoral Commission has announced they have found a "significant number" of previously undeclared donations to both the Conservatives and Labour parties. They will be releasing a report on Wednesday which highlights the discrepancies.

From what has already leaked it would appear the annual accounts of Conservative constituency associations showed that backing from former party treasurer Lord Ashcroft was much greater than previously reported. Donations totalling £55,345 have emerged in Calder Valley, Brighton Kemptown, Monmouth, Wellingborough and Tamworth which were not previously declared and Clwyd West and Shipley declared lesser amounts in the register than their accounts showed.