The Conservatives are demanding to know how many Labour ministers and MPs have links with property companies.
Several parliamentary questions about Westfield’s £100,000 payment to Lord Levy (pictured) have been put forward by shadow planning secretary Theresa May.
Westfield said that Lord Levy was hired for his “extensive business contacts in the UK, to advise on and identify potential business opportunities or partners”.
The company said that he was hired from March 1999 to March 2002.
Lord Levy is best known as a fundraiser for the Labour party and as Tony Blairs tennis partner.
He is also the prime minister’s personal envoy to the Middle East.
May asked: “Why would Westfield hire someone with no planning or property expertise, unless it wished to take advantage of his political contacts?”
A source in Conservative Central Office said: “We’re going to keep chipping away at this until we find out exactly how deep the rot goes.”
EGi News 12/04/02
