Overview

• The Conservative Party released a 2021 legal email advising Morgan McSweeney to drop an unproven claim about regulator guidance and to present nearly £740,000 of late-reported donations as an administrative error.
• Electoral Commission records show McSweeney was told in late 2017 that Labour Together had to declare donations within 30 days, yet dozens were not reported until after he left in 2020.
• A new claim highlights a £50,000 donation received on the very day the watchdog confirmed the reporting duty in writing, which was not declared until 2021.
• The Electoral Commission says it is reviewing the newly shared material to assess whether it indicates potential offences not addressed in its 2021 action and aims to conclude the review by Friday.
• Conservatives have urged police and parliamentary standards inquiries, while Labour Together says it proactively raised concerns and cooperated and ministers insist the prime minister has full confidence in McSweeney.