Labour has confirmed it will return more than £40,000 in donations made by a former party member who was expelled after being convicted of a violent crime.
The funds came from Abdul Sattar Shere-Mohammod, a 55-year-old businessman also known as Shere Sattar. He was convicted of actual bodily harm in 2022 and expelled from the party later that year. Despite this, he donated money to Labour in subsequent months.
Among the donations was a £10,300 payment made to the national party in June 2024—just under the £11,180 threshold required for public disclosure under Electoral Commission rules.
In addition, £15,000 was given to support the re-election campaign of Stephen Morgan, the MP for Portsmouth and current early education minister. Labour claims Morgan was unaware of the donor's conviction.
Shere-Mohammod also contributed £10,000 to the local party of Southampton MP Satvir Kaur and £5,000 to Portsmouth MP Amanda Martin. Kaur returned the funds last year, and Martin is reportedly in the process of doing the same.
The Labour Party has blamed an “administrative error” for failing to flag or report the donations properly. A party spokesperson confirmed the national party returned the money last Thursday after being contacted by The Sunday Times, which first reported the story.
The Electoral Commission said it is “considering the matter” in line with its enforcement policy. It is expected the donations will be officially reported in Labour’s next quarterly financial return.
The revelations raise concerns over Labour’s vetting of political donors, especially given its manifesto pledge to tighten donation rules and protect democratic processes.
In response to questions about the assault conviction, Shere-Mohammod told reporters he had been present during a confrontation over his son’s stolen bicycle but denied physically assaulting anyone, saying he attempted to defuse the situation.
Source: independent. Co.uk
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
0 Comments