THE chairman of the Conservative Party has written to Labour demanding the party return donations from a funder who has also gifted substantial sums to radical eco-protestors.
Greg Hands made the call after Just Stop Oil activists targeted the Chelsea Flower Show, in the Tory MP’s constituency, last week.
It was previously revealed green entrepreneur Dale Vince had donated around £1.5 million to Labour as well as donating to Just Stop Oil and other eco groups.
Hands suggested Labour’s links with Vince raised questions about their opposition to the draconian anti-protest laws passed earlier in the year.
Hands said: “I am concerned about the influence of this money given the Labour Party’s decision to vote against tougher measures to stop disruption via the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act.
The Labour Party is funded by the same person who funds Just Stop Oil. In light of yesterday’s attack on the rugby final, and Thursday’s on the Chelsea Flower Show, I have written to Labour’s Chair asking they come clean on their links to this disruptive & unpopular group 👇 pic.twitter.com/MVInjfSl3T
— Greg Hands (@GregHands) May 28, 2023
“I note the Labour Party has already caved into the demands made by the group and announced a halt to new oil, gas and coal projects.”
It comes after it was revealed this month the Tories had received their largest-ever single donation in more than 20 years from a billionaire who had served in the government of Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak.
Mohamed Mansour was Mubarak’s transport minister and gave the Conservatives £5m in one donation, saying it was a vote of confidence in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Vince, owner of the wind power firm Ecotricity, confirmed to Sky News in January he had gifted “tens of thousands” of pounds to Just Stop Oil as well as making donations to Greenpeace, Extinction Rebellion and Sea Shepherd.
I understand why they do what they do,” he told the channel. “It's what they have in their power to do.
"Whereas big business has different powers to pursue its agenda, and we have no real answer to that except sometimes to take to the streets."
Labour were approached for comment.
