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Political war of words over "Ashcash" (From Stourbridge News)
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Political war of words over "Ashcash"
6:08pm Wednesday 3rd March 2010
THE battle of the blondes began in Stourbridge and Cradley this week with MP Lynda Waltho lashing out at political rival Margot James for taking cash from controversial “non-dom” Lord Ashcroft.
Conservative party hopeful Ms James admitted on Twitter and The ‘Bridge radio station that she had received money towards her election campaign from the billionaire businessman up until 2008.
The high-flying aspiring MP said she received a “significant sum” towards her early efforts to win the marginal Stourbridge seat, but she would not confirm how much money was involved.
However said she is no longer receiving any funding from the headline-hitting Lord - whose whopping donations to the Conservative Party come from his Belize-based company, which does not pay British income tax.
Ms James told the News: "It’s a small proportion of the overall amount that I was eligible for.
“And I have not had any more money than Lynda Waltho had from the taxpayer by the communications allowance.
“I don’t think it’s fair to focus on Lord Ashcroft, what about Lord Paul and Sir Ronald Cohen - whom Labour has accepted donations from?
“I think Lynda Waltho is ill-advised to throw stones in this particular direction.”
Labour MP Mrs Waltho, however, says she has never accepted “non-dom” cash for her campaigns in Stourbridge.
She said: “All our money spent on campaigns in Stourbridge is raised by the constituency party and I get £600 from my union a year. It’s no comparison.”
Mrs Waltho is now demanding to know how much “Ashcash” has been pumped into the Tory fight for Stourbridge.
She has also written to Ms James asking her to pay the money back.
Mrs Waltho added: “What gives these people the right to think they can buy the Stourbridge constituency?
“Our local democracy is not for sale, particularly to billionaires like Ashcroft - who apparently believe that only we ordinary people should pay tax.”
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Your Say Your Stourbridge
Mr r weale, Colley Gate says...
6:35pm Thu 4 Mar 10
Mr r weale, Colley Gate says...
6:39pm Thu 4 Mar 10
The Villan , Stourbridge says...
11:17am Fri 5 Mar 10
The voters will decide on election day on policy not on who gave whom for what and when or why!
LUCY88, Hagley says...
10:39am Thu 11 Mar 10
This issue is about a man who sits in the lords and is the Vice – Chairman of the Conservative Party pumping tens of millions of pounds into marginal seats to buy an election. A man that doesn’t even pay tax in this country is deciding how much I and my family will have to pay in tax for the next five years. Something I found outrageous and many of my neighbours and friends do too.
As for communication allowance, I have received an annual report from Lynda and occasionally letters informing me of things happening in my area. I have always found them informative and without partisan prejudice. If these are items that have come out of the communications allowance then I believe your point is flawed and disingenuous.
A quick look on the electoral commission site shows that Mrs Waltho and the local Labour Party have always been at a severe disadvantage when it comes to finances to fight elections. Whereas Ms James, a millionaire herself, has received money from Mr Ashcroft. Perhaps as a gesture of good will she should give it back?
Most of us just want a fair election, on the issues. At the moment with Ashcroft pumping millions into this election is simply isn’t.
helencart, stourbridge says...
2:24pm Thu 11 Mar 10
Stourbridge Labour MP Lynda Waltho
The Conservative's prospective parliamentary candidate for Stourbridge - Margot James
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Linebacker II, Hasbury says...
8:06am Thu 4 Mar 10
Including the £10,000 a year you receive from the taxpayer courtesy of the 'parliamentary communication allowance' (aka 'political campaigning by another name')? Or the significant campaign funds that the trades unions bung in Labour's direction?
"(Who) apparently believe that only we ordinary people should pay tax.”
Would that same 'we' perchance include your fellow Labour MPs - including Chancellor Alistair Darling - who claimed against the taxpayer for the cost of the accountants they hired to manage their parliamentary expense claims - something no other 'ordinary' person in your constituency would be permitted to offset against tax?
Like Margot said, Lynda, the Labour Party would be wise not to lob bricks about in this particular greenhouse.