Red Box looks at the form which is at the centre of the controversy surrounding Ken Livingstone this morning
The Labour Party says the form solicits donations on behalf of the London Labour Party, not Ken Livingstone. Some may beg to differ.
It's an important distinction. Money raised directly for Ken is subject to much stricter rules than money raised for the party. The declaration threshold is £1,000 rather than £5,000, is published every month and - crucially - is identifiable as money meant for Livingstone.The rules say money can go to the party "unless the person giving the donation specifies that it is for the benefit of a particular candidate".
Can you see anything on this form which suggests it might be for specifically for Livingstone?
The Electoral Commission - which Labour say have pre-approved the arrangement - are looking again.
The Mail carries a similar story
The Electoral Commission said it was considering a complaint that Labour's London mayor has failed to declare a single donation since election funding laws were introduced seven years ago.
Mr Livingstone claims he has not received a penny and any money he spends is raised by Labour.
Ken Livingstone began by pleading to Londoners that this was a real political battle and not a celebrity big brother contest.
Jonathan Freedland writes in this morning's Guardian that
Livingstone needs voters to take the issues and candidates seriously in a contest that will have repercussions nationwideadding that
Ken needs to keep speaking about traffic and policing and housing, until the penny drops that these things would genuinely change under a different mayor. That case can be especially hard to make in London, with such a large proportion of those in the top socio-economic categories, people who aren't personally affected by talk of affordable housing or free travel for pensioners.
The Telegraph reports this morning that
The mayor then devoted much of a set-piece speech to painting his opponent as a right-winger who would undermine race relations in London.
Accusing Mr Johnson of "dog-whistle politics" over race issues, Mr Livingstone highlighted the role in the Conservative campaign of Lynton Crosby, the Australian polling adviser who helped run the last Tory general election campaign.
The truth is that there is little between the candidates.Both want more police,both back a green agenda and both are focusing on transport.This morning's Guardian the Guardian is reporting
Ken Livingstone and the Green party will unveil an election pact today urging their supporters to join forces in an attempt to defeat the resurgent Tory candidate, Boris Johnson, in the race to become London's next mayor, guardian.co.uk can reveal.
The Green party leader, Siân Berry, will ask those who vote for her on May 1 to pick Livingstone as their number two choice. At the same press conference the mayor will ask his voters to put the Green party candidate second.
Should those outside the capital worry about ths battle.The answer is yes,it will give a pointer towards the mood of the nation in reaffirming Tory support,even if the Tories themselves are unsure about Boris.Brown is backing Ken in a way that Tony Blair never did,a defeat will refelct badly on the Prime Minister.So eyes down for the next 5 weeks.
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