Tories top latest donation figures after getting 拢3m

The Conservatives received 拢3.2m in donations in the final three months of 2010, the latest official figures on party funding show.

Labour were given 拢2.5m between October and December 2010, according to the , while the Liberal Democrats got 拢464,994.

The British National Party (BNP), meanwhile, were left more than 拢100,000 in a will during the same period.

Donations to all parties totalled 拢6.5m, down from 拢7.2m a year earlier.

Under Electoral Commission rules, only gifts totalling 拢7,500 or more for a central party, or 拢1,500 for a constituency association, have to be declared.

Individual donations to the Tories included 拢335,000 from Conservative peer Lord Bishop, the former boss of the BMI airline and 拢300,000 from May Makhzoumi, the London-based wife of Lebanese businessman Fouad Makhzoumi.

Public funds

Corporate donors over the period included International Motors (拢105,352) and IPLG Ltd (拢50,000).

The watchdog's figures show that trade unions contributed 拢2.2m in cash and non-cash donations to Labour over the period, 88% of its total. Ed Miliband was elected Labour leader in late September.

Excluding union money, Labour received no single donations of more than 拢50,000 although the author and long-time Labour supporter Ken Follett gave the party 拢5,000.

The Lib Dems received 拢81,938 worth of donations from companies and 拢286,053 from individual sources - the largest coming from John Rainbow (拢11,200).

Separate figures show that the Conservatives had outstanding loans of 拢2.6m over the period, while Labour and the Lib Dems owed 拢9.8m and 拢481,144 respectively.

The BNP received a 拢109,000 bequest from supporter Edward Alderson during the period, following a 拢65,000 contribution from the same source in the summer of 2009.

The party said it had received a "nice chunk" of money but would not give any further details about the donor as the bequest was a private matter.

Five political parties reported receiving public funds totalling 拢4,083,504 over the quarter.

The Labour Party, the SNP and Plaid Cymru accepted a total of 拢3,767,588 in "Short money", which the UK Parliament pay directly to opposition parties in the Commons to help them develop policies.

The Conservative Party, the Labour Party and Liberal Democrats accepted a total of 拢120,776 in assistance paid directly to opposition parties in the Scottish Parliament.

Labour also accepted a total of 拢195,140 in "Cranborne money", which is for opposition parties in the House of Lords.