Date:24/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/24/stories/2008102456201900.htm

International

U.K. Shadow Chancellor in trouble over donation links

Hasan Suroor

LONDON: Senior Tory leader and Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, struggling to save his political career over allegations that he met a controversial Russian businessman, Oleg Deripaska, at a friend’s villa in the Greek island of Corfu and solicited funds for the party.

The allegation is that Mr. Obsborne broke rules that forbid foreigners from donating to British political parties. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for an investigation. “This is a very serious matter indeed and I hope it is investigated by the authorities,” he told the Commons.

Mr. Osborne, a friend of Tory leader David Cameron, denied the allegation.

He admitted he and the party chief executive Andrew Feldman met Mr. Deripaska at his friend Nat Rothschild in Corfu in August but rejected allegation that they sought money from him.

Mr. Deripaska reportedly offered to donate £50,000 but the party did not accept it.