Corbyn seeks ‘Donorgate’ controversy tycoon’s help

CASH-STRAPPED Jeremy Corbyn has asked to meet a controversial tycoon who was involved in one of Labour’s most notorious funding scandals.

The Labour leader wants talks with property developer David Abrahams amid growing concern that the party could struggle to afford to fight a snap election if Theresa May tries to take electoral advantage of her political honeymoon, sources said last night.

Mr Abrahams sparked the so-called ‘Donorgate’ scandal in 2007 when The Mail on Sunday revealed how he secretly gave £600,000 to Labour coffers via middlemen, a breach of electoral laws.

The millionaire last night confirmed Mr Corbyn had asked for a meeting with him: ‘I was at a function and he said, “Would you be available for coffee?”. I have an open mind on anything. I am not a high donor at the moment. All options are on the table as far as I am concerned.’

Mr Corbyn’s approach came as he faced a fresh row over his allegedly lukewarm efforts to keep the UK in the EU during the recent referendum.

In a scathing attack in a BBC2 documentary to be broadcast tomorrow, pro-EU Labour peer Peter Mandelson claimed the Labour In campaign had felt ‘sabotaged’ by their leader who had admitted he was ‘not a huge fan’ of the EU.

‘We were greatly damaged by Jeremy Corbyn’s stance – no doubt at all about that,’ said Lord Mandelson.

But Labour hopes that Mr Abrahams may make a large donation to prop up Mr Corbyn were boosted when he dismissed the current leadership challenge of rival Left-wing MP Owen Smith – and said he would not be voting for the challenger.

‘I would think Jeremy is a more sincere and genuine candidate than Owen Smith, who is sort of an opportunist,’ said Mr Abrahams. ‘To be frank with you, he’s not inspired me in the slightest.’

Party members should have been offered a choice of alternative leader, not just one so-called ‘unity candidate’, said Mr Abrahams, who disclosed that Mr Corbyn’s approach was made at a Muslim Friends of Labour meeting last month.

It is bound to cause surprise, bearing in mind Mr Abrahams’s Jewish background and claims that Mr Corbyn has failed to tackle anti-semitism within Labour.

Mr Abrahams said he would not ‘pull his punches’ on anti-semitism concerns when he spoke to the Labour leader.

This newspaper reported in 2007 how Mr Abrahams had covertly funnelled £600,000 to Labour in other people’s names, a practice which is illegal.

A police investigation was launched but in the end no charges were brought.