Originally published @ 11:06 am, Thu 11th Feb 2010
One MP protested on Wednesday about the influence of money in elections in marginal seats from certain individuals.
Q6. Mr. Gordon Prentice (Pendle) (Lab): Has my friend visited gordonprenticemp.com today to see how the next election in my constituency is being bought by a tax exile? Does he agree that he needs me here, and that Pendle is not for sale?
The Prime Minister: The Conservative party cannot talk about new politics or transparency unless it answers the central question about the tax status of its chief fundraiser, Lord Ashcroft. The Information Commissioner has already said that the party has been “evasive and obfuscatory” about the Ashcroft scandal. The Opposition have questions that they have to answer.
“Pendle is not for sale!”
And so say all of us.
It’s clear Gordon Prentice has a view about the impact of money in elections, and cites Lord Ashcroft’s words and deeds.
But it is frustrating that still the Conservatives can’t be straight about Lord Ashcroft.
“A senior source said Sir George Young had "mis-spoken" when he told the BBC that Ashcroft was a "non-dom" - allowing him to avoid paying British tax on overseas income and assets.”
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Things are tricky in South Derbyshire for another reason.
On Friday, nearly all the local Conservative District Councillors are seeking a dispensation on a prejudicial interest (at a Standards Committee to be held in the Council Chamber).
The reports describing the situation are available on the internet -
20 Conservative Councillors are seeking dispensations; 2 are not (Heather Wheeler and her husband). Heather Wheeler is reported by the Burton Mail in March 2008 as saying –
“As a matter of policy I do not sit on planning committees. I have no intention of falling in to the trap of conflict of interest.”
I’m not sure how comforting that will be to the other 20 Conservatives Councillors who are appear to have to navigate their way through such a “trap”, including Councillor Lisa Brown, who only in December was saying as an independent how important it is to be independent and in the run-up to the elections last year said- “You pay for your own campaign.”
The “matters shortly to be considered” are –
“1. Buying out of mineral rights to progress mixed affordable housing at Wilmot Road on [South Derbyshire District Council] land;
“2. Secure a 125 year lease on land adjacent to the Older People Extra Care Village to acquire the right of way and parking space;”
And the nature of the prejudicial interest is -
“Knowledge that the mineral rights owner, who is also the owner of said land (at 2.) above is a donor to the local Conservative Association.”
The reports do not name the donor and whilst people in the know seem to know, the general public might only be able to infer who the donor is.
A donor whose donations might well have enabled the Conservatives to win a majority on the council in the first place.
It’s to be hoped that fuller understanding of the situation can be made more publicly and more widely available, although the local newspapers have not yet wanted to publish anything on this matter (as of Thursday, 11th February).
None of this implies any wrongdoing.
And the Standards Committee are presented with a Standards Board report with criteria to evaluate the applications. The most important thing this largely independent committee can do, is give the matter full and proper consideration.
Especially the first test -
Q. Is the nature of the member’s interest such that allowing them to participate would not damage public confidence in the conduct of the authority’s business?
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The issue received local media coverage on the Friday –
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In the Derby Telegraph, Heather Wheeler is reported as explaining that the donor's previous donations was only used to campaign for South Derbyshire's Conservative parliamentary candidate, not by any councillors. But it's not clear from their statement of accounts that the money has been kept separately and the explanation may have overlooked the use of their campaign headquarters last year for the election of County Councillors.
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Meanwhile, it’s worth revisiting Heather Wheeler’s reported comments to the Burton Mail from 2008 -
"We are delighted to confirm that individuals have kindly donated to the General Election fighting fund.
"Mr Perkins is a neighbour and Mr Tyler is a friend from London.
"I'm not giving you his first name. If you want to find that out, do some investigative journalism and look on the Electoral Commission website.”
Mr. Tyler also appears to be a “friend from London” with Broxtowe Conservatives, Nottingham South Conservatives and Amber Valley Conservatives.
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Inofrmation on donations to political parties can be found at the Electoral Commission's web-page.
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