SOLIHULL MP Lorely Burt has said the borough is ‘not for sale’ after reports that a Conservative donor who has avoided UK tax bankrolled a campaign to try and win back her seat.The Liberal Democrat hit out after it was reported £55,777 was given to Solihull by Tory HQ, the single biggest donation by the party. See the official figures from the Electorial Commission here.
The Independent said the party’s national spending was ‘largely funded’ by Lord Ashcroft, who has confirmed he does not pay tax on his earnings outside of Britain.
The Conservatives lost the seat by 279 votes after decades in power at the last election in 2005. It hopes candidate Maggie Throup will regain it at the next poll, expected in May.
Mrs Burt said: “Solihull is not for sale. The voters cannot be bought, even if Lord Ashcroft’s Conservatives give the Solihull campaign more money than any other seat in the UK.
“The Conservatives have evaded questions about Lord Ashcroft’s tax status for years.
“We now know the truth - he does not pay tax on his worldwide earnings in the UK and has avoided paying up to £127m in tax.”
In a press release, she said: “It has taken a decade for him to finally admit he is not a permanent resident, the very condition he agreed to in order to become a peer.
“The Conservatives think they can throw money from Belize at Solihull and buy the seat.
“They clearly under-estimate the people of Solihull who know the Tories are trying to airbrush their record of pandering to the super-rich and ignoring everyone else.”
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