Pressure for full inquiry on ‘cash for access’ grows

The Tories released a list of 12 donors who were invited to four dinners in Downing Street since Mr Cameron’s election in 2010 and five donors invited for informal lunches at his country residence Chequers.

It comes after former Tory co-treasurer Peter Cruddas was caught telling undercover reporters that “premier league” gifts could secure meetings with Ministers and influence policy.

Mr Cameron yesterday denied Mr Cruddas’s claims that big donors’ concerns were fed into a policy committee at Downing Street. He announced Tory peer Lord Gold would conduct a party inquiry into the affair, while the party would in future release quarterly registers of significant donors invited to eat with him, as well as lists of those attending “Leader’s Group” dinners for donors who give more than £50,000.

But Labour leader Ed Miliband dismissed the Gold inquiry as “a whitewash” and called for an independent investigation by the PM’s official adviser on Ministerial interests.

“This scandal speaks to the conduct and character of this Prime Minister and his Government. Anything short of an independent inquiry will leave a permanent stain on the reputation of this Government and this Prime Minister,” he said.

Labour claimed the dinner-party guests had between them handed over £23m to the Conservatives since Mr Cameron became leader.

Mr Cameron sought to turn the tables on Labour, saying he was ready to accept a cap on donations, but only if it applied not only to individuals and companies but to unions too.

News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch, whose own meetings with politicians have come under scrutiny in the hacking scandal, backed calls for an independent inquiry.

Writing on Twitter, he said: “Of course there must be a full independent inquiry on both sides. In great detail, and with consequences. Trust must be established. Without trust, democracy, and order will go.”

A list released by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s office featured four meals attended by major party donors at his official residence, Chevening.