Watson is told: You can’t take Mosley’s money
A HUmILIATeD Tom Watson has been told by party chiefs that he can no longer take max mosley’s money.
Labour’s deputy leader has received more than £540,000 from the former Formula one boss to fund his private office since 2015 and has said he is proud to call him a friend.
But – after the mail revealed that mr mosley had published a racist leaflet in a by-election campaign – Jeremy Corbyn said his party would not take any more of his cash.
The tycoon had suggested yesterday that he would make more donations.
Labour’s move will be seen as a slapdown for mr Watson from the hard- Left leadership, which is keen to curb his ability to fund an alternative, ‘moderate’ power base.
A source close to mr Corbyn described the leaflet uncovered by the mail as ‘utterly repugnant’. He added: ‘Large contributions to the Labour Party are a subject of close scrutiny and internal regulation. There will not be any more contributions to the Labour Party or Labour frontbenchers by max mosley.
‘We have moved away from large individual donors and any contributions of that kind will be strictly monitored.
‘The criteria against which they are being judged and will be judged is whether they are appropriate and ethical.’
There was no commitment however to hand back any of the £540,000. A string of mPs urged mr Watson to return the cash – saying Labour could not claim to represent ethnic minorities while it hung on to it.
Tory mP Jacob rees-mogg said: ‘If I were Tom Watson I would be so ashamed to be
‘I would be ashamed’
associated with someone so hostile to the British constitution and freedom of speech that I would feel obliged to pay the money back with interest.’
Former Cabinet minister Priti Patel said: ‘Labour has got no credibility in being the voice of Britain’s diverse communities when they are friends of this man that had these abhorrent views about people from other ethnic backgrounds.’
Tory Party deputy chairman James Cleverly said: ‘Tom Watson should seriously consider distancing himself from mr mosley and returning the money. He must avoid the impression of an unhealthy connection between Labour’s position on Press freedom and a wealthy donor who may find himself embarrassed by reporting of his past actions.’
The revelations about mr mosley are hugely embarrassing for mr Watson, who is mP for West Bromwich east where 30 per cent of constituents are from ethnic minorities. mr mosley gave him more than £40,000 in 2015 to fund his campaign for the deputy leadership. Another £200,000 was given in 2016, followed by £300,000 last year. The deputy leader has previously defended the donations, saying: ‘I’m proud to call max mosley a friend and I’m delighted he has made a financial contribution to Labour.’
Labour figures – including Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott – declined to comment on whether mr Watson should hand back the cash.
Commons records show most of the money came to mr Watson via the Labour Party – and not straight to his office, as is the case with most mPs.
It has not been explained why this method was used but it means that on a separate parliamentary record, listing mr Watson’s nine staff, it is only necessary to state they were funded by the Labour Party rather than the donor.