Politics: Cook says give cash away

Robin Cook, the Foreign Secretary, yesterday urged William Hague, the Tory leader to hand over a pounds 1m donation to his party to "victims of the drug trade".

Mr Cook was referring to an alleged donation from Ma Sik-chun, who is wanted on drug smuggling charges.

Mr Cook said in Hong Kong yesterday: "I don't think the Conservative Party can retain funds from that source." However he believed Mr Hague should not return the cash to the family of Mr Ma but use it "to fund some of the many voluntary drugs projects going on in Britain, seeking to help young people who have been the victims" of the drug trade.