Lording it over us?

Published: 18th March 2010

• AS the scandal around Tory non-dom millionaire backer and chief strategist Lord Ashcroft refuses to go away, I wandered up West End Lane noticing the proliferation of Conservative Party billboards.
I’ve already seen many more in Hampstead & Kilburn than in previous elections. Given that the Tories are really targeting the seat this time, and we know Lord Ashcroft’s cash is focused on marginals, the obvious question is whether his dubious funding is trying to buy the election here.
There aren’t many people I’ve talked to who aren’t amazed that the Tory high command didn’t know about Ashcroft’s tax status.
Hampstead & Kilburn is the sort of independently minded constituency where residents really object to the idea of any party trying to buy their votes. 
Local Tories should come clean. Have they rejected Ashcroft cash to fund all the election posters and glossy literature we’ve seen lately? If not, why not?
And if they have said no to Ashcroft the question that naturally follows is: Who exactly is funding the expensive Tory campaign locally? 
Voters have the right to know.
MIKE KATZ
Chair, Hampstead & Kilburn Labour Party, NW6