Blair becomes Labour donor
Thursday, 27 November 2008 12:00 PM
Former prime minister Tony Blair has become a Labour party donor, according to figures released by the electoral commission.
He donated £7,500 to the party last September along with former ministers David Blunkett and Stephen Byers.
Mr Blunkett, the former home secretary, gave £5,000 and ex-transport secretary Stephen Byers gave £2,000.
For the first time in 10 quarters, Labour gained more private donations than the Conservatives, with a total of £5 million, to the Tories' £4,060,633.
£2.25 million in loans were also converted into gifts, £2 million of which came from Lord Sainsbury.
Harry Potter author JK Rowling donated £1 million.
Several celebrities appeared on the list including Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and the ex-partner of former England manager Sven Goran Ericksson, Nancy Dell'Ollio.
Unions also figured prominently on the list with Unite giving £303,352 and Unison donating £735,000 in one payment and £362,625 in another.
Mr Blair is estimated to have made £12 million since he left Downing Street, primarily from speaking engagements but also from a book deal and an advisory position on two banks.
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