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Tories hit back over Ashcroft

They say Mr Bradley, who used parliamentary privilege to say Mr Ashcroft was linked to investigations into drug smuggling and money laundering, failed to declare a conflict of interests.

Six Tory backbenchers, led by Tim Loughton, have put down a Commons motion saying that Mr Bradley, when a local councillor, blocked a planning application by Waitrose supermarket while working as a consultant for Safeways.

In the motion the MPs say Mr Bradley should "look to his own record in public life before making unfounded allegations about the business affairs of a private individual, under the cloak of parliamentary privilege".

No libel claim can be made against either side as their remarks were made in Parliament.

But Mr Ashcroft, a billionaire tax-exile based in Florida, is suing The Times newspaper over claims it made similar to those raised by Mr Bradley.

Tories stand by their man

His decision to take The Times to court is being backed by the Tory party.

Party chairman Michael Ancram told the BBC: "He's the party treasurer, we have confidence in him as party treasurer and we are certainly not going to allow the sort of political vendetta being carried out by The Times and the Labour Party, as we now know, together in conjunction, to drive one of our party officials from office."

Mr Ancram's support for Mr Ashcroft comes after a senior Tory activist called for the election of a new treasurer for the party.

John Strafford, Chairman of the Campaign for Conservative Democracy, suggested that the party treasurer should be elected rather than appointed by the party's leader, allowing Mr Ashcroft to leave the position.

In a letter to The Times, Mr Strafford wrote: "Mr Ashcroft would not stand for election (he has told me so). He could then depart the scene with dignity.

"This action increases democracy and would get William Hague out of a corner which at present he is boxed into, as he appointed Mr Ashcroft."

Mr Strafford warned: "The party board could change the constitution, but if it does not wish to then I shall move a motion at the next national convention meeting on 4 October."

Calls to refer Mr Ashcroft to the Conservative Party's own internal ethics committee by independent MP Martin Bell have been rejected by Mr Ancram.

Mr Ashcroft has donated £3m to Conservative Party coffers in recent years.

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