Journalist David Ostler has posted a chapter of his 2002 book "Labour Party Plc: New Labour as a Party of Business" with some interesting details of how the NuLabour fundraiser Michael Levy operated, the dubious blind trusts etc. which led to the current legislation on Party Political Donations. Rremember the previous Labour donor funding scandal involving tobacco sponsorship and Formula 1 racing supremo Bernie Ecclestone's £1 million donation which had to be refunded ?
These blind trusts apparently funded Tony Blair's private office, including spin doctor Alistair Campbell and Jonathan Powell, the chief of staff., whilsy Labour was in opposition.
Given how long Lord Levy has been raising funds for the Labour party. it doe seem strange that Jack Dromey the official Labour party Treasurer and husband of Cabinet Minister in charge of Constitutional Affairs Harriet Harman kept in the dark about the £ 14 million of "loans". Especially since Harriet Harman's portfolio of responsiblities included Electoral Law and reforms, including those dealing with political party funding.
As he says, David Ostler hardly got any media attention when his book came out in September 2002, but on the basis of this chapter entitlef "Taking it on trust", it looks to be required background reading for people who are interested in the current "loans" scandal.:
The chapter is split into part one, and, apparently due to a post length limition in Blogger, also a part two which contains references to sources.
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