A senior member of British Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservative Party resigned yesterday after he reportedly offered access to the prime minister for donations of £250,000 (US$396,000).
The Sunday Times newspaper released secretly recorded video footage of what it said was the center-right party’s cotreasurer, Peter Cruddas, making the offer to undercover reporters.
In a statement shortly after the allegations were published, Cruddas said his comments to the reporters were “bluster,” but added that he had resigned from his position.
“I deeply regret any impression of impropriety arising from my bluster in that conversation. Clearly there is no question of donors being able to influence policy or gain undue access to politicians,” he said.
“Specifically, it was categorically not the case that I could offer, or that David Cameron would consider, any access as a result of a donation. Similarly, I have never knowingly even met anyone from the No. 10 [Downing St] policy unit. But in order to make that clear beyond doubt, I have regrettably decided to resign with immediate effect,” Cruddas said.
In the footage, Cruddas is seen discussing different sized donations and saying that £200,000 to £250,000 is “premier league,” granting access to Cameron and British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne.
“When we talk about your donations, the first thing we want to do is get you out to Cameron and Osborne dinners,” he said in the recording.
“You do really pick up a lot of information. And when you see the prime minister, you’re seeing David Cameron, you’re not seeing the prime minister ... but within that room everything’s confidential and you will be able to ask him practically any questions that you want,” he added.
A Conservative Party spokesman had earlier said that “no donation was ever accepted or even formally considered by the Conservative Party.”
The Conservatives lead a 22-month-old coalition government with the centrist Liberal Democrats.
In 2010, Cameron promised curbs on Britain’s lobbying industry if he came to power, saying that lobbying was the “next big political scandal waiting to happen.”
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