WAR OF WORDS OVER LOCAL ELECTION FUNDING
A REQUEST by a Charleston resident for details on how the election campaign of Alberto Costa is being funded has hit a raw nerve of the Tory candidate for Angus and has prompted a "war of words" over local election funding.
In a letter to the Dispatch (see our letters section), Elizabeth Petrie asked for clarification on a number of points regarding Mr Costa's current campaign.
She asked if any money donated by Lord Ashcroft - the Conservative Party's deputy chairman who was made a peer in 2000 but who has remained a "nom dom" for tax purposes, meaning he does not pay UK taxes on his overseas earnings - had been used to fund the Tory campaign in Angus.
She also asked if any of Lord Ashcroft's money would be spent on the Angus campaign in the future and if Alberto Costa's campaign was being orchestrated by Lord Ashcroft's team.
Whilst categorically denying that any of Lord Ashcroft's funding had been used for his election campaign, Alberto stated every penny being spent on his campaign could be viewed on the Electoral Commission website.
He said: "All of what I have spent can be viewed on line. Anyone can see how much has been raised, how much I have put into my campaign.
"Most of it has been raised locally or raised by me.
"None of the Scottish candidates get a penny from Lord Ashcroft."
Whilst Mr Costa stressed the Conservatives disclosed their accounts, he claimed the SNP did not.
Formal complaint
He continued: "Before anyone points their finger in the wrong place, Ms Petrie should know that a formal complaint has been made to the Electoral Commission for the complete lack of accounts from the SNP in Angus.
"I have led a clean campaign and have made an expenses pledge. The Angus Conservatives annually submit their full, independently audited accounts to the Electoral Commission for public disclosure, from which answers to Ms Petrie's questions can be obtained.
"However, it is very concerning that Mr Weir, MP states on his website that he "fully supports transparency in expenses" and yet absolutely no accounts are published by the 'Angus SNP' since 2001, surprisingly when Mr Weir was first elected.
"The real questions to be asked are how much taxpayers' money does Mr Weir MP give to the SNP in Angus, if any? Does the 'Angus SNP' rent offices to Mr Weir or does he rent offices to the 'Angus SNP'? Who knows? We have absolutely no way of telling how much taxpayers' money may be propping up the running of the SNP's political offices in Angus as none of its accounts are published."
Mr Costa continued: "The Electoral Commission have recently stated that there are four 'accounting units' registered to the SNP in Angus, none of which publish their accounts. Why?
"The law states that if the turnover of a political party is less than 25,000, no accounts need to be published. So, hey presto, it appears that for the purposes of 'accounting units' the 'Angus SNP' may not exist.
"This is a neat way of avoiding transparency and potentially circumvents the purpose of the law which requires political parties to be open and transparent about their income and expenses, as the Angus Conservatives are.
"So, before any SNP leaning individual begins to huff and puff about Lord Ashcroft, let's just ask why the 'Angus SNP' accounts are a complete secret. And, let me make one thing completely clear. Not a penny of any money expended on my campaign comes from Lord Ashcroft.
Scottish Conservatives candidates raise their own money from Scotland."
Responding to Mr Costa's allegations, Mike Weir, Angus SNP MP said: "It is typical of Mr Costa that, when a member of the public dares to question him, he launches into an intemperate and incoherent rant against me.
"He claims that all the money spent by Conservative candidates is raised in Scotland, yet the Electoral Commission website shows that, just months after Mr Costa was selected as their candidate, the Angus Tories received a donation of 10,000 from Flowidea Limited, a company based in London which, according to the Daily Telegraph, also gave 500,000 to the Conservative party nationally in 2005, including a large sum to the Angus Tories.
"According to Flowidea's accounts they also gave sizeable donations to a variety of right wing pressure groups.
"As I understand the way the Tories use Ashcroft money, it is not now paid directly to the candidate but used for centrally directed campaigning in selected constituencies.
"Perhaps Mr Costa can enlighten us as to how the barrage of assorted mailed letters which are descending on local residents, not to mention the large billboard adverts across Angus, are being funded?
"His accusations against the SNP are simply ludicrous. All our accounts are lodged in accordance with Electoral Commission guidelines and are available to the Commission to view if they should wish to do so."
Public record
Turning to the issue of the rental arrangements for his office, Mr Weir continued: "I realise Mr Costa has not been in Angus long, but the rental arrangements for my offices are a matter of public record.
"I have three offices but claim rent from Parliament for only one of these. My expenses claims for the past five years are published on line and claims are now published on a quarterly basis by Parliament on their website, so anyone can go and look for themselves.
"Mr Costa may claim he is fighting a "clean campaign", but the truth is the campaign he heads has been a nasty, vindictive affair from the outset - as his latest outburst amply demonstrates!"
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