Scottish Tories come under fire on donations

Published on Sunday 29 August 2010 16:13

THE Scottish Conservatives have come under attack for a series of donations made by a company owned by an exiled peer, more than a year after it was claimed the Monaco-based businessman had stopped offering financial support to the party.

According to figures released by the Electoral Commission, a firm owned by Tory peer Lord Laidlaw gave the party nearly 100,000 of donations in kind in the form of free rent and administration support at a business centre once used as the party's Scottish HQ in Princes Street Edinburgh.

Lord Laidlaw was previously the Scottish party's largest donor, but caused controversy in 2007 after he was revealed to be a "non-dom" UK resident for tax purposes. A spokesman for Labour said: "These revelations show that the Tories haven't changed. They are still beholden to Lord Laidlaw, a disgraced tax exile who said he had stopped supporting them financially more than a year ago. It is also in direct contradiction to assurances given by the party's only Scottish MP David Mundell."

The SNP added: At a time when everyone is being warned about the cutbacks that are going to have to be made, the Tories are still accepting cash from someone who is exploiting loopholes and avoiding paying tax.

But the Tories pointed out the party no longer used the Abbey Business Centre as its Scottish HQ. A spokesman said the company was entitled to make the donations, but added: "Neither he or his companies are making any donations and we are no longer in the premises."