Labour faces pressure to publish the names of anonymous donors

July 28, 2024
Labour faces pressure to publish the names of anonymous donors
  • who contributed more than £100,000?

Labour is under pressure to publish the names of anonymous contributors who have contributed more than £100,000 through a covert association.

The West Midlands Breakfast Club gave £130,530 to the Labour Party earlier this year, but as a "unincorporated association," it is not allowed to divulge member names.

The businessman who coordinates the group told The Telegraph that he couldn't divulge the identities of the "business club" members without their permission.

Campaigners are afraid that these entities will be used to transfer money to political parties from contributors who are not permitted to donate individually.

According to Electoral Commission guidelines, unincorporated associations like the West Midlands Breakfast Club.

Donor status is meant to be used by groups such as local political party wings to make it easier for them to donate.

The political finance regulator is "clarifying the status" of the entity, according to a spokesman.

On Sunday night, Conservative MPs chastised the Labour Party for its lack of transparency.

Dame Caroline Dinenage, the Tory MP for Gosport in Hampshire, stated, "Labour should reveal who these donors are." People want to know who is sponsoring the political parties they elect, especially if those parties propose significant changes to government policy. 

"We're all very keen to be sure that there aren't any vested interests at the heart of that."