Ashcroft is a Non Dom

So Lord Ashcroft has finally given a statement on his tax status.

With two months to go before a general election,his lordship has clarified that he is indeed a non dom but that since sitting in the Lords,he has declared all his UK income to her majesties revenue and customs.

Clear?,the statement continues

As for the future, while the non-dom status will continue for many people in business or public life, David Cameron has said that anyone sitting in the legislature - Lords or Commons - must be treated as resident and domiciled in the UK for tax purposes. I agree with this change and expect to be sitting in the House of Lords for many years to come."

Well Labour's Gordon Prentice certainly is-He put in the freedom of infrmation request which has prompted this sudden change of heart

"This is absolutely explosive. He says that he has been declaring all his UK income to HM revenue, he's not declaring his worldwide income, he's worth £850m. He should resign from House of Lords immediately."

More bad news for the Labour party on the front page of this morning's Guardian.The paper has got hold of a leaked document from the electoral commission which has

"strong reservations" about proposals to reform party funding put forward by the justice secretary, Jack Straw.

The proposals centre around the attempt to reduce the influence of the likes of Lord Ashcroft by closing the loophole over how much funding can be put into a constituency outside of election time.Currently this is limited to £11,000 during elections.

Lord Ashcroft put in excess of £2m in marginal seats ahead of the 2005 election of which 33 became Tory

Peter Hoskin writing over at Coffee House points out that

Of course, the commission can't block the legislation. But the reforms would only come into effect after it's offered its guidance. And the commission's reservations mean that Straw may be waiting some time for that. So much time, in fact, that it's looking unlikely the changes will come into effect before the next election. So, Tory spending in marginal seats will remain unchecked.

Not so neutral Total Politics

An interesting revelation in the New Statesman by Kevin McGuire.

Iain Dale's much flaunted new politics mag is to be bankrolled by none other than Lord Ashcroft.

Your correspondent discovered Dale squatting in Ashcroft's 7 Cowley Street basement lair when I paid an uninvited call to the Westminster block. Dale insisted the company was his, with Ashcroft a wealthy investor who'll play no editorial role. Yet I suspect the involvement of the moneybags right-winger, whose tax status remains an international mystery, will hinder Dale's attempt to present Total Ashcroft as "politically neutral

Bob Piper asks the question

Are there any other Tory bloggers getting a 'subsidy' from Ashcroft? (No, not you, newmania... he wouldn't be that daft)... for instance is that other 'independent free spirit Paul Staines also in receipt of Ashcroft gold? As MaGuire says... just exactly how big a hole does this blow in the claim that Total Ashcroft will be politically neutral?

Iain Dale talking to media Guardian replies

Ashcroft's cash would not influence the magazine's content.

A deal with the Tory peer had yet been signed, and any agreement would be purely a "commercial arrangement and Ashcroft's involvement would be a "huge compliment", said Dale.