Political donations

The Labour Party headquarters received nearly £17 million in cash last year, an analysis of figures supplied to the political watchdog the Electoral Commission shows.

Trade unions provided 48p in every £1 going into the central coffers of the Labour Party. Twelve unions gave just over £8 million in total with four giving over £1 million each. The four were: the Unite general union with £3.15 million; the GMB general union £1.35 million; the shop and distribution workers’ union Usdaw £1.33 million; and the public services union UNISON with £1.23 million.

The second largest slice of money came from public funds and accounted for 43p in every £1 received. This mostly came from money supplied to the opposition parties in the form of Short Money in the House of Commons and Cranborne money in the House of Lords.

Thirty-one individuals gave a total of £1.08 million, including a £31,550 gift from comedian Eddie Izzard and a £51,089 donation from Lord Sugar.

Thirteen companies gave a total of almost £390,000 and there were seven donations worth almost £86,000 from other labour movement organisations, such as the Co-operative Party.

www.electoralcommission.org.uk