Scotland Yard is assessing a complaint that Labour’s 2004 hunting ban was, in the words of a former party fundraiser, “bought and paid for” by a £1 million donation. Jonathan Powell’s name features prominently…
According to the Telegraph, the allegation – referred to the Met by pro-hunting campaigners – is that the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) gave Labour £1 million in 1996 in return for a manifesto commitment to ban hunting with dogs. Former Labour fundraiser Brian Basham claims it was Powell, then Blair’s chief of staff, who sent him to collect the cheque. Basham says it came with the message “We have to stop hunting with dogs”…
The complaint asks the police to examine the party for alleged misconduct in public office. The Met confirms it received a report on 20th April concerning “a donation made to a political party prior to the 1997 general election,” and that officers are assessing it. No investigation has been launched (yet), and Labour of course insists it’s a non-story. But the claims are awkward for Powell. He’s still in situ as Burnham’s National Security Adviser…
Tom Baldwin, author of Starmer’s hagiography, spoke to Times Radio:
Tom Baldwin: “I think he’d like to do something. He’s very dutiful and driven by service. That’s why he came into politics. I think that’s characterised his time as prime minister. He hasn’t always sought popularity or been good at being popular. But I think he has some of the necessary qualities that we actually do want in a prime minister. That resilience, that relentlessness, that ability to carry the weight and the job really does weigh very heavily on people and he carries that weight very, very well.”
Jo Coburn: “NATO Secretary-General?”
Tom Baldwin: “I think that’s something that he would be interested in. I think it probably requires Andy Burnham’s government to support him in that and these are some of the questions which Andy Burnham has to resolve quite quickly.”