Former Tory Treasurer provides party's largest donation

Image caption, Mr Cruddas was the largest donor to the Conservative party in the first three months of the year.
  • Author, Chris Mason
  • Role, Political correspondent

Figures released by the Electoral Commission show the former Conservative Co-Treasurer, Peter Cruddas gave the Conservatives 拢215,244 between January and March.

Mr Cruddas resigned from his post in March after undercover reporters from the Sunday Times filmed him suggesting major donors could gain access to No 10 and have ideas fed into policy committees.

Peter Cruddas gave the sixth biggest donation to a political party overall in the first three months of this year.

Of the other five donations, four were from trades unions to the Labour Party, one was from the Cooperative Group to the Cooperative Party, which stands candidates with Labour.

Top of the list is the union Unite, which gave the Labour Party 拢918,568. Unison handed over 拢547,901.

Overall, the Conservatives continued to receive the most money in donations - a total of 拢4,086,097.

But Labour was close behind, bringing in 拢3,452,441.

The Liberal Democrats raised 拢606,724.

Declarations to the Commission show public funding for the period came to just over 拢850,000.

The parties owed 拢14,634,772 between them in outstanding loans.