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Labour party in funding crunch as donors criticise PM

29/06/2008

The Labour party is facing serious funding problems as donors revolt against the current prime minister and his policies.

The ruling party, which has debts of over £20 million, has seen key donors, who have been generous in the past, refuse to contribute due to anger over Gordon Brown's policies, according to the Times newspaper.

A list of donors said they were unhappy with their present leader and refused to contribute to the party in such circumstances. Millionaires such as businessman Sir Maurice Hatter, author Sir Christophe Ondaatje, tycoon Sir Gerry Robinson, Everton football club proprietor Bill Kenwright and bet365 head Peter Coates all said they had doubts over the former chancellor.

Speaking about Mr Brown to the newspaper, Sir Hatter said: "He hasn't got the charisma. He was a good number two, but he is not a number one. I just don’t think he is a prime minister."

Mr Kenwright also expressed doubts about Mr Brown's leadership credentials, saying a "quantum change" in leadership was needed to win a general election campaign.

But Sir Ondaatje, who has donated over £1 million to the party pointed to policies such as the nationalisation of Northern Rock as his concern. He said the bailout of the specialist mortgage lender would result in "inevitable disaster", adding that he was weary of the government controlling the public sector.

Another donor, Sir Gerry, who has funded the party to the tune of £70,000, claimed that the prime minister did not have the qualities needed to be a good leader. He said: "Gordon is someone who wants to be in control of the detail himself. You can't run a family like that, let alone the country.

"From a political point of view, it is hard to imagine it could be worse than it is. Brown was a very good chancellor, but it feels very rocky now. There’s more to leadership than having policies," he added.

Recent polls show support for Labour plummeting and the party's recent poor showing in by-elections also heaped pressure on the prime minister.