Cameron denounces fundraising claims

British Prime Minister David Cameron has said claims made by a senior Tory fundraiser that donations to the party would secure access to ministers are “completely unacceptable”.

Mr Cameron insisted that was “not the way” the Conservative Party raised money and promised an inquiry to ensure it would not happen again.

He said it was right that treasurer Peter Cruddas had resigned in the wake of the revelations about his comments to undercover reporters posing as potential donors.

“What happened is completely unacceptable. This is not the way that we raise money in the Conservative Party, it shouldn’t have happened,” Mr Cameron told BBC News.

“It’s quite right that Peter Cruddas has resigned. I will make sure there is a proper party inquiry to make sure this can’t happen again.”

Mr Cameron was plunged into the cash-for- access row after Mr Cruddas was filmed claiming large donations to the party would secure meetings with the prime minister.

Mr Cruddas boasted that “things will open up” for anybody willing to donate stg£250,000 (€300,000) a year.

Speaking to undercover reporters from The Sunday Times who were posing as wealth fund executives, he claimed: “It will be awesome for your business.”

He said that “premier league” donors — those giving £250,000 a year — could lobby Mr Cameron directly and their views were “fed in” to the Downing Street policy unit. He said there was no point in “scratching around” with donations of £10,000.

According to The Sunday Times, he believed that any prospective donations from the reporters would come from Liechtenstein and would be ineligible under election law.

They are said to have discussed the creation of a British subsidiary and the possibility of using British employees to make the donation.