Tories want PM apology over ‘secret fund’
The Conservatives have demanded Gordon Brown apologise for misleading the Commons over a ‘secret fund’ of Labour party cash.
Tory party chairman Eric Pickles wrote to the prime minister after Bexleyheath and Crayford MP David Evennett raised the issue in prime minister’s questions this lunchtime.
“All our constituents are rightly concerned about transparency, expenses and cleaning up politics,” Mr Evennett said.
“With that in mind, now that it is clear that there was a £50,000 fund solely for the prime minister’s use at his headquarters, will he explain why he did not declare this in the register of members’ financial interests?”
The Tory allegations are based on claims made by Labour’s former general secretary Peter Watt in his memoirs, Inside Out.
Before becoming prime minister, Gordon went to some lengths to insulate himself and the Treasury from our financial troubles, setting up his own personal pot of cash at party HQ,” he wrote.
“This was money we could not dip into, since it was set aside for the chancellor’s own pet projects.”
The row is the latest devastating blow Mr Watt, who is embittered at the way Labour abandoned him in the wake of the ‘cash-for-honours’ scandal, has indirectly landed on his former party.
Mr Brown responded to Mr Evennett’s question by stating: “I know nothing about what the hon. gentleman is talking about.”
His official spokesman repeated the line later that afternoon, saying he was “not aware of the correspondence” which Tory MP Greg Hands had had with the prime minister on the issue.
Now Mr Pickles is calling on Mr Brown to apologise to the Commons for failing to register the fund.
“If you wish to restore trust in politics, you should stop treating people like fools by claiming that you were unaware of this fund when all the evidence points to the contrary,” Mr Pickles wrote.
“I therefore urge you to admit to this fund’s existence, apologise for misleading the House and cooperate with any inquiries that [parliamentary standards commissioner] John Lyon may wish to make.”
Mr Hands submitted an official complaint to Mr Lyon last week.
