On Saturday, Peter Cruddas, the co-treasurer of the Conservative Party, resigned after a three-month investigation by the Sunday Times that revealed he has told undercover reporters that they could have access to the government and even lobby British Prime Minister David Cameron directly in exchange for £250,000.
“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,” Cruddas said in his resignation statement.
The opinion poll, conducted by polling organization ComRes on behalf of the Independent, revealed that the opposition Labour Party had a 10-point lead, its largest in the past 7 years.
Earlier this week, Cameron’s office revealed the names of the donors with whom Cameron had dinner in his Downing Street flat between February 2011 and February 2012.
“In the two years I have been Prime Minister, there have been three occasions on which significant donors have come to a dinner in my flat. In addition, there was a further post-election dinner which included donors in Downing Street itself shortly after the general election,” Cameron admitted.
However, he denied that the ‘guests’ were recommended by Cruddas and claimed there were people he had known for “many years.”
Jack Straw, British Foreign Secretary from 2001 to 2006, said the scandal was “symptomatic of the pandemonium that has broken out in the Conservative Party and in the higher reaches of the Government.”
ISH/PKH/HE
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