'Out of touch': Rochdale MP slams David Cameron's 'wining and dining' despite political gifts falling £1million

By Dean Wilkins

Contributions to political parties dropped by nearly £1million in the three months new figures revealed, but a Rochdale MP slammed the Conservatives’ ‘wining and dining’ treatment of donators.

Labour MP Simon Danczuk attacked the prime minister’s ‘cosy’ gatherings at Downing Street despite the amount of donations falling £992,312 to £7,873,478 that were reported to the Electoral Commission.

The Tories raked in £3.8million of the amount while Labour followed with just under £3millon – they also received £1.6million out of a total of £2.4million of public funds accepted by opposition parties.

And Danczuk has accused David Cameron of hosting the wealthy in order to further the party’s financial interest.

"David Cameron's cosy dinners in Number 10 have helped the Tories rake in hundreds of thousands from millionaire donors in the last few months, while over a million pounds has flooded into Tory coffers via their exclusive 'Leader's Club' events where ministers rub shoulders with only the very biggest donors,” said Danczuk.

"With each day that passes it's clear that David Cameron's Government is completely out of touch – wining and dining the millionaires they gave a tax cut to in the Budget while millions are paying more."

Labour received the largest donation of the period –  £840,275 from the Unite union – and also gained £429,558 from the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, and £313,863 from the GMB union.

The Conservatives' biggest donation was £512,450 from financier Michael Farmer, who was appointed co-treasurer of the party in February.

The Liberal Democrats' largest donation was £250,000 from Brompton Capital Limited.

Conservatives’ co-chairman Baroness Warsi accused Labour of being ‘overwhelmingly reliant’ on money from Unite and labelled Ed Miliband as unable to stand up to its leader Len McCluskey.

She said: "The boss of Labour's biggest donor is threatening British businesses with more strikes as his trade union continues its takeover of the Labour Party.

"With Labour still overwhelmingly reliant on union cash, it's clear Ed Miliband is too weak to stand up to Len McCluskey and the other barons who anointed him Labour leader."

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