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Labour winning funding race
Labour is edging ahead in the pre-election party funding race, according to the latest Electoral Commission figures.
The party took in more than £5 million in donations in the last quarter of 2004, half a million pounds more than the Conservatives.
Labour took £5,162,731 between October and December last year, while the Tories raised £4,610,849. The poll is widely expected to be held on May 5.
The Liberal Democrats trailed behind on £1,149,844, while the Scottish Nationalists had the next biggest income of £359,819.
Union support
The coffers of Labour's Old Queen Street headquarters were boosted by consistent support from the trade unions.
But a Christmas gift of £500,000 from vaccine millionaire Lord Drayson, ennobled by Tony Blair last year, will buy several billboard advertising sites in the election campaign.
Another £500,000 came from philanthropist Sir Christopher Ondaatje, while other notable donations were £330,000 from refrigerator magnate William Haughey and
£101,384 from businessman Sir Sigmund Sternberg.
Tories
The Tories took 24 donations totalling £161,840 from Bearwood Corporate Services, a company controlled by controversial former party treasurer Lord Ashcroft.
But betting tycoon Stuart Wheeler has so far failed to match his 2001 donation of £5 million, giving a still substantial £200,000 last year.
Luckily for the Lib Dems and others, all parties are subject to a strict limit on what they can spend on campaigning in the run-up to the election, although only Labour and the Tories are likely to reach it.
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Published: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 16:05:49 GMT+00
Donations October-December 2004
- Labour £5,162,731
- Conservatives £4,610,849
- Liberal Democrats £1,149,844
- Scottish National Party £359,819
- Co-operative Party £127,527
- New Party £117,000
- UKIP £63,081
- Scottish Socialist Party £34,440
- British National Party £26,225
- Green Party £23,789
- Scottish Green Party £11,055
- Plaid Cymru £23,608
- Christian Peoples Alliance £9,000
- Forward Wales £2,700
- Legalise Cannabis Alliance £2,600
- Liberal Party £661
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