Andy Burnham recently supported an even lower donations cap than previously reported, according to correspondence seen by the Guardian, as the row over next week’s elections bill escalates.
The prime minister wrote to a campaigner in May outlining his support for a £500,000 individual donations cap, which he said would “guard against the perception of any one party being unduly influenced or swayed by one person or organisation”.
In a follow-up email seen by the Guardian, Burnham went on to say he believed the cap should gradually be reduced – a proposal now being put forward by the Labour MP Stella Creasy.
Campaigners are accusing Burnham of a U-turn after the Guardian reported the prime minister had decided not to back the attempts by Creasy and others to introduce a donations cap in next week’s elections bill.
Arola@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Andy Burnham has registered accepting £345,000 of donations over the past year including £164,347 from businessman Lord Sainsbury.
Less of a u turn, more of a lie with no genuine intent.
scratchee@feddit.uk 3 weeks ago
Not sure I follow your logic there. If I was a politician who hasn’t received £500000 total donations, I’d want to add a £500000 cap so my competition can’t either.
Arola@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Burnham has presented this u turn on the £300k cap as pressure from unions, but the finances show that he received a pittance from all union members combined in the last year (£20k). He received nearly £325k from 6 individuals in the same period (including the £160k from Lord Sainsbury). The union angle is bollocks - it’s more likely that some of the 6 people that gave him £320k don’t want any caps at all, thank you very much. Suddenly he is no longer backing any caps at all, and blaming unions. Maybe my logic is flawed.