UKIP 'secrecy over donors flouts rules'

The Sunday Times claimed Stuart Agnew and UKIP party leader Lord Pearson of Rannoch suggested ways to flout Electoral Commission rules to give cash to its general election campaign fund. The MEP told an undercover reporter a person could remain anonymous by channelling funds through an unincorporated association called Global Britain, which was set up by Lord Pearson in 1997.

Electoral Commission rules state unincorporated associations, which do not have to file accounts, can make donations to political parties but the money must not be channelled from an individual who is seeking to remain anonymous.

Mr Agnew was recorded as saying: "I've spoken to Nigel Farage (UKIP MEP and former party leader) and he says at the moment you can put 25,000 into Global Britain and you will remain anonymous."

Another undercover reporter spoke to Lord Pearson who said the money given to Global Britain would be passed "straight on" to UKIP. Asked if he could guarantee the donor's name would not come out he said: "Yes, we did it in the European elections (in 2009). We passed on 80,000 from one person in effect ... and that caused no difficulty at all."