Cash quiz ahead for Johnson

By Adrian Butler, sundaymirror.co.uk 3/02/2008

Health Secretary Alan Johnson is to be investigated by the Electoral Commission over donations to his deputy leadership campaign.

The move follows our revelation last week that his campaign had accepted money given through a proxy, and declared four donations months late.

A spokeswoman for the commission said it was still waiting for an explanation of why a businessman had channelled his campaign donation via his brother-in-law.

Ahmed Yar Mohammed, treasurer of Croydon Central Labour Party, paid £3,334 through Waseem Siddiqui, 50, who is in Britain on a student visa.

Mr Mohammed said: "At no point was it my intention to disguise my donation."

The Electoral Commission say they were not aware of the donation and three others until months after the 60-day deadline.

The Health Secretary insisted his team had been "100 per cent honest" and more than fulfilled its legal obligations to check the source of Mr Siddiqui's cash.

He claimed they filed notice of the donations on time and said: "We did what the law asked us to do.

"We checked that he is on the electoral roll, that he is registered to vote."