An investigation into undeclared donations to a campaign group led by Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff will not be reopened, the political finance watchdog has said.
The Electoral Commission said it had found “no evidence of any other potential offences” so would not reopen its investigation into Labour Together.
The group, previously led by the PM’s closest aide Morgan McSweeney, was fined £14,250 in September 2021 over late reporting of £740,000 of donations after it reported itself to the Electoral Commission over what it said was an “administrative error”.
Mc McSweeney left his role in April 2020 to become a senior aide to Sir Keir in opposition and then in government but was leading Labour Together during the period it was fined for.
The Conservatives had called for a new investigation by the Electoral Commission after obtaining leaked emails they claim show Mr McSweeney had attempted to cover up the late reporting of donations as an administrative error.
Mr McSweeney was head of Labour Together. Pic: PA
An Electoral Commission spokesperson said: “We have thoroughly reviewed this information and found no evidence of any other potential offences. We are confident that the initial determination and sanction were appropriate.
“We are therefore not reopening the investigation.”
They added that Labour Together’s fine had been “significant” and reflected “the seriousness of the offences determined, for which no reasonable excuse was put forward”.
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Tory party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said the commission’s decision was “wrong”.
“The commission must now publish all of their Morgan McSweeney files to ensure the public has full transparency,” he added.
“It is clear that Morgan McSweeney deceived the Electoral Commission, but has dodged a criminal offence on a technicality. This loophole won’t wash.
“The Conservatives uncovered clear evidence of McSweeney’s industrial scale cover-up of a slush fund used to install Keir Starmer as Labour Leader. Despite the denials of Labour and Nothing to See Here Keir, it is clear that the prime minister’s chief of staff still has very serious questions to answer.
“This is not over, we will continue to reveal more evidence, and continue to push for a full investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner into Keir Starmer. The British public deserve the full truth, not another cover-up, and the Conservatives will continue to fight until they get that.”
Kevin Hollinrake accused Mr McSweeney of a cover up
A spokesman for Labour Together said: “Today, we welcome the Electoral Commission’s decision that there are no new grounds for action or investigation.
“Labour Together proactively raised concerns about its own reporting of donations to the Electoral Commission in 2020.
“The Electoral Commission’s investigation, with which Labour Together fully cooperated, was completed in 2021. Since then, we have taken measures to ensure Labour Together is fully compliant with all Electoral Commission regulations.”
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “The Conservatives have zero answers to the challenges faced by working people.
“In a pathetic and desperate attempt to stay relevant, the Tories only hope is to throw mud at the wall and hope something sticks. There isn’t a low that they won’t stoop to.
“They can’t be trusted and they haven’t changed. The Electoral Commission considers this matter closed.
“This Labour government is solely focused on fixing the mess left by the Tories, and renewing Britain – to make people right across the country better off.”
