LETTER: No secrets in Labour cash

From Mr David Hill

Sir: Your front page article today (15 May) asserts that "Labour will get secret cash help" from an organisation named Common Campaign Ltd. It goes on to say that "any company giving cash [to Common Campaign] would not have to declare a political donation, and could keep the payment secret".

This is nonsense. In the article I am quoted at length, pointing out that this is an independent organisation set up solely to encourage individuals - not companies - to donate money for advertisements at election time in support of Labour. Crucially, I pointed out that these individuals would be named in advertisements.

How on earth can this be called "secret"? And how can you possibly justify going ahead with the assertions set out above in the light of this information? My contradiction was simply included in the story without any attempt either to comment on it or to refute it.

Yours sincerely,

DAVID HILL

Chief Media Spokesperson

Labour Party

London, SE17