Campaign for a New Workers' Party

If you think all the big political parties are the same - you're right! The bosses have got three parties - isn't it about time we had one of our own?

Start here to find out more about the CNWP

For all press and media enquiries contact:
Press Officer: Pete McLaren

Email: pete.mclaren@virgin.net

Phone: 07881 520626

DOES TODAY’S LABOUR PARTY HAVE ANY PRINCIPLES OR INTEGRITY?

For immediate use 27 November 2007

Following the cash for honours row earlier this year, when Labour was accused of promising political positions in return for large donations to the Party, we hear that Labour has been receiving donations which we now know were from a wealthy property developer, David Abrahams. Mr Abrahams failed to make the donations in his own name, despite donating his own money. Instead, he made the donations in the names of a business partner, a solicitor and his part time secretary, a practice which may well be illegal. Mr Abrahams claimed this was “to avoid publicity”. The most immediate result has been the resignation of Labour’s General secretary Peter Watt for not reporting the donations as he should have done.

“This whole issue raises a number of issues”, Campaign for a New Workers’ Party Chair Dave Nellist said today. “Mr Abrahams is the 3^rd highest Labour Party donor. It no longer seems to matter to New Labour that he made his millions out of property development, and is a Director of six property companies. He uses a different name for these property deals – David Martin. He has been successfully sued for £1.73 million by the Allied Irish bank for a property deal that went sour. Why does Labour want to accept money from people with this type of background?”

CNWP Press Officer Pete McLaren took up the story. “David Abrahams was a political friend of Tony Blair. He was present when Blair confirmed his decision to stand down as Prime Minister. It is inconceivable that Gordon Brown did not know about him or his donations – they totalled nearly £600,000. First Brown asks former CBI chief Sir Digby Jones into his Cabinet. Now he accepts donations from a wealthy property developer, donations which, it would appear, were not legally declared. Who will Labour go to bed with next? The mind boggles,” he concluded.

Pete McLaren CNWP Press Officer

NOTES

The Campaign for a New Workers’ Party (CNWP) was launched in London at a Conference attended by 450 socialists and trade unionists on March 19. Nearly 3,000 supporters have already signed the founding declaration, and a number of left groups have affiliated. Officers and a Steering Committee have been elected. The CNWP founding Declaration can be seen on our web site: www.cnwp.org.uk

For further information contact:

Pete McLaren on 07881 520626

Dave Nellist on 07970 294237

Email: pete.mclaren@virgin.net

info@cnwp.org.uk

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