Surprise at ‘begging letter’ in Tory paper

Sep 5 2008 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

A ROW has broken out over the funding of local political parties.

Jane Mercer, chairman of the Chester Constituency Labour Party, was amazed by a “begging” letter contained within the Conservative Chester Globe newsletter asking for donations.

She said the Tories had access to the funds of millionaire supporter Lord Ashcroft and she refuted a claim that local Labour activists had access to a “fat union cheque book”.

But Chester Tory parliamentary candidate Stephen Mosley has hit back saying his party relies on donations and insisting that 90% of Labour’s funding does come from the unions which filters down to the local party.

Mrs Mercer, a former city councillor, said: “When the Tory Chester Globe came through my letterbox last week , I began to read it with interest.

“My interest turned to amazement when I read Stephen Mosley’s article begging for financial support to help him get elected!

“As chairperson of Chester Constituency Labour Party I can assure him that the “local Labour party” does not have “access to a fat union chequebook”.

“However, readers should know that Lord Ashcroft has allocated £2 million for 50 Conservative candidates in marginal seats – and Chester is one of them.

“As long as the money is spent outside an election period, there is no limit on the amount. It is only during the official election period that all parties have a cap on spending.

“The Tories are rich – and they have access to far more money than does the Labour Party. We should be careful not to take their messages at face value.”

Cllr Mosley, who represents Handbridge & St Mary’s ward on Chester City Council and Overleigh division on Cheshire County Council, said: “The vast majority of the money we raise is raised locally and it’s done through coffee mornings and through donations.”

He admitted the Chester Tories had received target seat funding from Central Office which draws on Lord Ashcroft’s money. About £7,000 has been forthcoming so far – to pay for posters and leaflets – and a bid for a similar amount has been submitted.

Chester is believed to be number 19 on the Tories’ target list of marginal seats.

But he added: “As a political party we are dependent on the kindness of local people. The vast majority of our money comes from voluntary donations and individuals.

“Over 90% of the Labour Party’s funding comes from the unions. We don’t have that benefit.”

Chester’s Labour MP Christine Russell was recently disowned by the GMB union. She was named among the first six of 35 Labour MPs it will refuse to support at the next General Election.

The union examined the voting records of the 108 GMB-sponsored MPs in parliament and those who had not, in the GMB's view, performed well, will have their funds cut. A puzzled Ms Russell said the only funding received was a £6 annual affiliation fee to Chester Labour Party which was less than her £10 membership fee to the union.