Chief Whip and Shadow Leader of the House: Paul Tyler
The revelation that the Tories are refusing to disclose the origin of a £1 million donation shows that they have learnt nothing from their sleazy past, according to Paul Tyler MP, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip and Shadow Leader of the House. Mr Tyler said: “The Conservative Party have learnt nothing from the sleaze scandals that rocked their last years in power. “William Hague promised that his leadership would bring openness to the murky world of Conservative Party finance, but this secret donation shows his words amounted to nothing. “The Tories said that they would no longer accept cash from abroad, and that they would open up their books to public scrutiny. Either this donation is a foreign donation which breaks both pledges, or there is some other reason for the Tories cloaking it in secrecy. “After all the recent huffing and puffing about tax in this country, it would look pretty odd if this £1 million is traced back to a tax exile. “Tory Treasurer Michael Ashcroft’s influence is believed to extend to approving all cheques, and signing most of them. He must know where this donation comes from. Whatever the reasons for this excessive secrecy, Mr Ashcroft must come clean if the Tories are to have any hope of shedding their sleazy image.”
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