David Cameron won't disclose Number 10 guests after donor row

David Cameron has declined to reveal whom he has invited to dinner at his home - after a request made in the wake of the donor row - because such details are "private", No.10 has said.

But the PM promised a "proper inquiry" into donations after the resignation of Tory co-treasurer Peter Cruddas.

Mr Cruddas quit after reporters filmed him saying donations to the Tory party could ensure access to Mr Cameron.

The BBC understands guests to the PM's home have included some party donors.

But ministerial aides at Number 10 say it will not reveal any further details about the guest list because the flat above 10 Downing Street is used as his private family home and Mr Cameron - not the taxpayer - foots the hospitality bill.

The known guests include long-standing party donors such as former Tory treasurer Michael Spencer and the party's current chief executive, Andrew Feldman, who is an old friend of Mr Cameron's from university.

Labour is demanding an independent inquiry after Mr Cruddas's claims, which were filmed by undercover Sunday Times reporters, came to light over the weekend. The matter has also been reported to the Metropolitan Police.

Labour had also requested full disclosure of dinner guests entertained at Mr Cameron's Downing Street home.

And Tory MP Mark Field said a list of donors who had been entertained in the flat at No.10 should be released.

Mr Cameron has pledged to hold a party inquiry into the claims, which he described as "completely unacceptable".

But Labour leader Ed Miliband said that that was not good enough and a "proper independent investigation" was needed.

He also said it would be right for the prime minister to make a statement to Parliament on the issue.

"It can't be an internal Conservative investigation sweeping it under the carpet and in a way keeping it from the public," he said.

"We need to know what happened. These are so serious, these allegations, because it's about the way that policy is made, we've just had a Budget in which the tax rate has been cut at the top of the income scale.

"We need to know what access was paid for, if access was paid for, and what contributions were made and the interaction between the prime minister, the chancellor and Conservative Party donors."

Mr Cruddas was secretly filmed saying that a donation of £200,000 or £250,000 gave "premier league" access to party leaders, including private dinners with Mr Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne. He also suggested that any such donor could have their feedback on political plans fed back to the party's policy committee.

He was heard initially saying that it was not possible to buy access to the prime minister.

But he then went on to discuss what access different size donations would get.

He was speaking to the reporters posing as staff from a fake wealth fund based in Liechtenstein who were interested in doing business in the UK.

He told them: "Two hundred grand to 250 is premier league… what you would get is, when we talk about your donations the first thing we want to do is get you at the Cameron/Osborne dinners."

He said they would be able to ask Mr Cameron "practically any question you want".

'Impression of impropriety'

Mr Cameron has said the incident should not have taken place.

"This is not the way we raise money in the Conservative Party. It shouldn't have happened.

"It's quite right that Peter Cruddas has resigned. I will make sure there is a proper party inquiry to make sure this can't happen again."

In his resignation statement, Mr Cruddas said: "I deeply regret any impression of impropriety arising from my bluster in that conversation.

"Clearly there is no question of donors being able to influence policy or gain undue access to politicians."

The Conservative Party currently has several levels of donation, with the top one being the Leader's Group, where for an annual donation of £50,000 donors can be invited to join Mr Cameron and other senior figures from the Conservative Party at dinners, post-Prime Minister's Questions lunches, drinks receptions, election result events and important campaign launches.

Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said "reform" of funding system was necessary.

source:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17508271