[claytonender]

Andrew there have been no large donations to Hyndburn CLP of over £500 from any trade union/company/individual (which is the threshold above which donations have to be reported) since the £500 received from Amicus on 6 September 2006.

There has however been money received from the Hyndburn Labour Group of councillors.

Each month the Hyndburn Labour Councillors contribute (from their own money) to the Hyndburn Labour Group and this money is then used to pay for the election expenses of the Labour Party candidates in the HBC local elections.

The bills for the election expenses are paid by the Hyndburn CLP and the Hyndburn Labour Group then reimburses the money to Hyndburn CLP. This reimbursement has to be recorded (as per the rules of the Electoral Commission) as a donation to Hyndburn CLP.

It really is a nonsense that the Labour Party is being bankrolled by Unite - whilst many councillors, MP's and Labour Party PPC's are Unite members that does not mean that Unite are paying any money towards their election campaign.

I hope that this answers your question and I would hope that you would be able to supply us with information about how the Hyndburn Conservative Association receives its funding.