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Tories receive cash boost
The Conservative revival under Michael Howard has continued with new figures showing the Tories received more cash than Labour during the first three months of the year.
Data published by the Electoral Commission showed the Conservatives raised £2,645,283 in the first quarter of 2004.
That compared to £2,888,717 in the previous three months and £1,976,979 during the first quarter of 2003.
The Conservatives received £685,921 in public funds and were given 89 cash donations totalling £1.8 million. The remaining £155,032 came in the form of non-cash donations.
In contrast, Labour's fundraising efforts pulled in £2,546,400 while the Liberal Democrats trailed with £947,262.
The figures also showed that the UK Independence Party raised £251,750 while the SNP received £115,069 and the Greens took £36,646.
Celebrities
Notable donations to the Tories were a £6,000 gift from author Frederick Forsyth and £60,000 from Stuart Wheeler, founder of spread betting firm IG Index.
Labour's fundraising efforts brought in £2.4 million in cash and just over £100,000 in non-cash donations.
Hollywood actor Patrick Stewart, who joined deputy prime minister john Prescott on the campaign trail earlier this week, donated £50,000 to Labour.
Further donations came in the form of £3,000 from MP Barbara Follett and £1,350 from her Burnley colleague Peter Pike.
And Labour chiefs will be pleased that the Electoral Commission has now completed its investigation into previous instances of late reporting of donations.
"Although the investigation identified areas for improvement in the party's procedures, the commission is satisfied that the party treasurer took all reasonable steps and exercised due diligence to meet the reporting requirements for the relevant periods," said the Commission.
"The Commission will take no further action in relation to the late reporting of those donations."
Minor parties
The Lib Dems received £581,120 in cash and £347,725 from public funds, with the balance coming largely in the form of nine non-cash donations.
The party received its usual large donation from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust - totalling £125,000 - while the annual Liberal Democrat Ball raised £45,712.
There was also a £5,000 donation from Lib Dem MEP Andrew Duff, MP Andy Reid gave £811.67 and Baroness Nicholson made donations totalling £10,000.
For the Greens, the Commission's register revealed donations of £2,200 from London assembly member Jenny Jones and £1,450 from MEP Jean Lambert.
The SNP received the sum of £1,873 from Richard Lochhead, its MSP for the North East Scotland region, while UKIP was given £2,000 by MEP Jeffery Titford.
There were no funds listed for Plaid Cymru, indicating they received no donations over £5,000 to their main offices or over £1,000 to constituency or local party offices.
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Published: Wed, 26 May 2004 11:38:23 GMT+01
Party donations January - March 2004
- Conservative Party: £2,645,283
- Labour Party: £2,546,400
- Liberal Democrats: £947,262
- UK Independence Party: £251,750
- Scottish National Party: £115,069
- The New Party: £75,000
- Co-operative Party: £45,487
- Green Party: £36,646
- British National Party: £26,014
- Prolife: £7,100
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