Saturday, August 4, 2007

Labour bids to close down Ashcroft cash to Tory marginals

The Independent reports that Labour are looking to have a bill in the autumn whose provisions will include the closing down of a loophole which allows Lord Ashcroft to fund Tory candidates in marginal constituencies in between elections.

It is remarkable that Labour believe, rightly or wrongly, that this type of funding has such a powerful impact that they have to bring in legislation to stop it. Indeed, it seems that they fear they may be too late:

(Harriet) Harman, who is also Leader of the House of Commons and in charge of the legislative programme, has warned the Prime Minister that she cannot get an electoral reform bill on the statute book before autumn next year, and by then, Lord Ashcroft's impact could have a deciding effect.

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