Cidersomerset
26th March 2012, 13:52
Tape of Peter Cruddas talking to undercover reporters on link below............
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http://www.davidicke.com/images/stories/March201293/cruddas-comes-clean.jpg
'Mr Cameron found himself caught in a cash-for-access row after Peter Cruddas, the Conservative Party’s co-treasurer, was recorded in secret claiming that donors were treated to exclusive dinners in Mr Cameron's flat above No 10 Downing Street and Chequers, the Prime Minister’s official country residence.
Senior party sources admitted that Mr Cameron had held talks in his flat with two large donors in the past year, although the source said it was “exceptionally unusual”. Michael Spencer, a former Tory treasurer, was one of the guests.'
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http://www.xfm.co.uk/uknews/headlines/PM-Condemns-Tory-Cash-For-Access-Claims
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PM Condemns Tory Cash-For-Access Claims
added 26 March 2012 at 00.07
David Cameron has condemned claims by ex-Conservative Party co-treasurer Peter Cruddas after he was filmed apparently offering access to the Prime Minister in return for donations.
Mr Cameron said it was "completely unacceptable" and insisted it was "not the way" the party raised money.
He also promised an inquiry to ensure it would not happen again. He added it was "quite right" that Mr Cruddas had quit his post in the wake of the revelations.
"What happened is completely unacceptable. This is not the way that we raise money in the Conservative Party, it shouldn't have happened," Mr Cameron said.
In an undercover investigation, The Sunday Times claimed Mr Cruddas offered two international financiers the opportunity to lobby Mr Cameron directly on policy matters if they donated at least £250,000 a year to the party's election war chest.
It said the Liechtenstein-based financiers were actually undercover reporters who secretly filmed Mr Cruddas at their meeting in a hotel overlooking Lake Zurich.
In the meeting, Mr Cruddas told the pair that "things will open up for you" if they donated that amount of money to the Conservatives. He added: "It will be awesome for your business."
Announcing his resignation, Mr Cruddas said in a statement: "I deeply regret any impression of impropriety arising from my bluster in that conversation.
"Clearly, there is no question of donors being able to influence policy or gain undue access to politicians.
"Specifically, it was categorically not the case that I could offer, or that David Cameron would consider, any access as a result of a donation. Similarly, I have never knowingly even met anyone from the Number 10 policy unit.
"But in order to make that clear beyond doubt, I have regrettably decided to resign with immediate effect."
The newspaper claimed its investigation revealed rich donors could buy "premier league" direct access to the Prime Minister and exposed the "hollowness of Tory pre-election promises" to clamp down on lobbyists.
However, a Conservative Party spokesman told Sky News: "No donation was ever accepted or even formally considered by the Conservative Party.
"All donations to the Conservative Party have to comply with the requirements of electoral law. These are strictly enforced by our compliance department.
"Unlike the Labour Party, where union donations are traded for party policies, donations to the Conservative Party do not buy party or government policy.
"We will urgently investigate any evidence to the contrary."
Labour called for an independent investigation and challenged Mr Cameron to "come clean" about what he knew and when.
Opposition leader Ed Miliband said: "It can't be an internal Conservative investigation sweeping it under the carpet and in a way keeping it from the public. We need to know what happened.
"These are so serious these allegations because it's about the way that policy is made, we've just had a Budget in which the tax rate has been cut at the top of the income scale.
"We need to know what access was paid for, if access was paid for, and what contributions were made and the interaction between the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and Conservative Party donors."
Mr Cruddas is the director of two City firms which operate in the index trading and spread betting sectors.
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http://www.davidicke.com/images/stories/March201293/cruddas-comes-clean.jpg
'Mr Cameron found himself caught in a cash-for-access row after Peter Cruddas, the Conservative Party’s co-treasurer, was recorded in secret claiming that donors were treated to exclusive dinners in Mr Cameron's flat above No 10 Downing Street and Chequers, the Prime Minister’s official country residence.
Senior party sources admitted that Mr Cameron had held talks in his flat with two large donors in the past year, although the source said it was “exceptionally unusual”. Michael Spencer, a former Tory treasurer, was one of the guests.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.xfm.co.uk/uknews/headlines/PM-Condemns-Tory-Cash-For-Access-Claims
-
PM Condemns Tory Cash-For-Access Claims
added 26 March 2012 at 00.07
David Cameron has condemned claims by ex-Conservative Party co-treasurer Peter Cruddas after he was filmed apparently offering access to the Prime Minister in return for donations.
Mr Cameron said it was "completely unacceptable" and insisted it was "not the way" the party raised money.
He also promised an inquiry to ensure it would not happen again. He added it was "quite right" that Mr Cruddas had quit his post in the wake of the revelations.
"What happened is completely unacceptable. This is not the way that we raise money in the Conservative Party, it shouldn't have happened," Mr Cameron said.
In an undercover investigation, The Sunday Times claimed Mr Cruddas offered two international financiers the opportunity to lobby Mr Cameron directly on policy matters if they donated at least £250,000 a year to the party's election war chest.
It said the Liechtenstein-based financiers were actually undercover reporters who secretly filmed Mr Cruddas at their meeting in a hotel overlooking Lake Zurich.
In the meeting, Mr Cruddas told the pair that "things will open up for you" if they donated that amount of money to the Conservatives. He added: "It will be awesome for your business."
Announcing his resignation, Mr Cruddas said in a statement: "I deeply regret any impression of impropriety arising from my bluster in that conversation.
"Clearly, there is no question of donors being able to influence policy or gain undue access to politicians.
"Specifically, it was categorically not the case that I could offer, or that David Cameron would consider, any access as a result of a donation. Similarly, I have never knowingly even met anyone from the Number 10 policy unit.
"But in order to make that clear beyond doubt, I have regrettably decided to resign with immediate effect."
The newspaper claimed its investigation revealed rich donors could buy "premier league" direct access to the Prime Minister and exposed the "hollowness of Tory pre-election promises" to clamp down on lobbyists.
However, a Conservative Party spokesman told Sky News: "No donation was ever accepted or even formally considered by the Conservative Party.
"All donations to the Conservative Party have to comply with the requirements of electoral law. These are strictly enforced by our compliance department.
"Unlike the Labour Party, where union donations are traded for party policies, donations to the Conservative Party do not buy party or government policy.
"We will urgently investigate any evidence to the contrary."
Labour called for an independent investigation and challenged Mr Cameron to "come clean" about what he knew and when.
Opposition leader Ed Miliband said: "It can't be an internal Conservative investigation sweeping it under the carpet and in a way keeping it from the public. We need to know what happened.
"These are so serious these allegations because it's about the way that policy is made, we've just had a Budget in which the tax rate has been cut at the top of the income scale.
"We need to know what access was paid for, if access was paid for, and what contributions were made and the interaction between the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and Conservative Party donors."
Mr Cruddas is the director of two City firms which operate in the index trading and spread betting sectors.