Britain’s Electoral Commission is looking into a case involving an Indian-origin British parliamentarian following allegations that the Indian tourism office donated 5,000 pounds for a party hosted to celebrate his general election victory, a media report said.
Virendra Sharma is a Labour MP for Ealing Southall, a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons.
According to the spokesman of the Electoral Commission, it has begun an “assessment” of what, if any, involvement the India-born Sharma had with the donation, Daily Telegraph reported.
Accepting donations from foreign sources is illegal under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
The party, which was attended by David Miliband, the former foreign secretary, and Lord Paul, the Labour donor, was held May 23 last year at Monsoon Banqueting Suites in Southall, Sharma’s constituency in west London.
An invoice of 5,000 pounds was allegedly sent to the tourist office, Incredible India.
Sharma says: “I welcome the opportunity to have the facts properly examined and will fully co-operate with the Electoral Commission so that this matter can be resolved without delay.”
When Sharma’s attention was earlier drawn to the matter by Phil Taylor, a councillor in Ealing, he said: “I vehemently deny the false allegations that have appeared in various media.
“I have never received a donation from India tourism and have, therefore, never been liable to make a declaration in the Parliamentary register of members’ interests.”