Donations were 'wrong' - Dromey

Mr Dromey said all parties had a duty to uphold high standards

Labour treasurer Jack Dromey has said the practice of accepting donations by proxy from property developer David Abrahams was "absolutely wrong".

Mr Dromey told reporters the prime minister had been "right to act".

But asked if he had been kept in the dark over the money's origins he would only say "complete concealment".

Last year he sparked an internal probe when he revealed he knew nothing about millions of pounds in loans made to Labour before the 2005 election.

He is also married to Harriet Harman, who has admitted accepting £5,000 for her successful deputy leadership bid, from Janet Kidd, saying she did not realise it had actually come from Mr Abrahams. She has returned the money.

Mr Dromey told reporters he had always stood for "the highest standards in public life", but did not say exactly what he knew about Mr Abrahams' donations.

He was asked, as he made his way to his car outside his house in south London, "Did you, personally, know about the Abrahams money, sir?"

Mr Dromey replied: "Complete concealment"

A reporter then asked: "Were you kept in the dark, sir?"

Mr Dromey replied: "Complete concealment."

He was then asked "were you kept in the dark over these donations, sir?" and "did your wife know the full extent of the Abrahams donations"?

Mr Dromey replied: "Complete concealment."

He was then asked again: "So you knew nothing about the Abrahams money whatsoever?"

Mr Dromey said: "I've nothing further to add."