BBC:
Labour given donation rules grant
The Labour Party was paid £183,000 in public money to help officials understand new funding rules shortly before it accepted secret donations.
The Electoral Commission gave the party the start-up grant in 2001 and 2002 after the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 came in.
But since 2003 property developer David Abrahams has donated £663,975 to the party under other people’s names.
[..]
The Conservatives received a similar sum.
The cash was intended to help party officials understand regulations including submitting accounts and declaring donations above £5,000.
