David Abrahams is behind a £60m business park granted planning permission after he gave £160,000 to the Labour Party.
The revelation has prompted fresh questions from the Tories about his donations. The Independent stresses there is no suggestion that Abrahams’ donations to Labour were linked to the planning approval.
The Highways Agency originally rejected the plans for the 540 acre Durham Green Business Park on the grounds it would cause too much congestion on the A1, but it removed its objections last year and the local Labour council approved the scheme. A new company called Durham Green Developments was set up on October 19 last year to develop the site.
Its directors are Ray Ruddick and Janet Kidd, the two employees through whom Abrahams made nearly £400,000 of donations to Labour.
Abrahams is not a director but the company is registered at his home address. The Highways Agency said former transport secretary Douglas Alexander played no part in the decision to allow the development.
Peter Watt, Labour’s general secretary, has resigned in the wake of the David Abrahams donation affair. He admitted he approved an arrangement under which the north-east property developer used three associates to channel nearly £400,000 to party coffers. Watt said he was unaware he was breaching electoral rules by accepting the donations through intermediaries
27/11/07 Financial Times 1, 3 Times 1, 4 Daily Telegraph 1, 4, 5, 25 Guardian 1, 4 Independent 3
