Recently leaked documents are prompting intense Conservative donations scrutiny. These files originate from Boris Johnson’s time in Number 10. They describe Syrian-born billionaire Wafic Said as a “donor”. This label raises significant legal questions. UK law strictly prohibits foreign nationals from funding political parties. Only individuals on the UK electoral roll can donate.
Consequently, this revelation casts doubt on millions in gifts. Mr. Said’s wife, Rosemary, is a British citizen. She has given £2.6 million to the Conservatives over 25 years. Therefore, the couple consistently claims this is her own money. They insist the donations are entirely separate from her husband’s wealth. However, the newly emerged official logs challenge this long-standing explanation.
Specifically, the documents detail a 2019 Downing Street meeting. Mr. and Mrs. Said attended together. Official logs listed the purpose as “political”. They also identified Mr. Said as the “donor”. Furthermore, logs show two separate phone calls in 2020 and 2021. Then-Prime Minister Johnson spoke directly with Mr. Said. These calls were also marked “political”. Conservative fundraiser Ben Elliot even joined one call.
Moreover, the correspondence continued after Johnson left office. Mr. Said wrote a personal letter expressing regret. Moreover, he mentioned enjoying their meetings. Johnson replied, thanking him for his “ongoing support”. Mrs. Said was only briefly mentioned in passing. This pattern suggests Mr. Said was the primary political contact.
Therefore, this evidence fuels further Conservative donations scrutiny. The Electoral Commission mandates strict checks. Parties must ensure donations come from permitted sources. Bob Posner, the Commission’s former CEO, emphasized this rule. He stated parties must take all reasonable steps to identify the true donor.
The Conservative Party defends its position. However, the logs provide a detailed, minute-by-minute account of Johnson’s schedule. They were maintained by civil servants.
This situation is not the first time the Said family’s donations faced questions. The family blamed an administrative error. This latest incident, however, prompts renewed Conservative donations scrutiny. It directly involves the former Prime Minister and party headquarters. The legality of millions in donations now appears uncertain. This Conservative donations scrutiny will likely continue as more details emerge.
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