No 10 admits link between school donors and peerages

4.07.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 16th Apr 2006

Lib Dem MP Norman Lamb criticised the Prime Minister honours for cash sleaze

Liberal Democrat MP, Norman Lamb, the chief of staff to party leader Sir Menzies Campbell has criticised the prime Minister after his office admitted that academy donors were put forward for peerages partly because of their school roles. "We shouldn't get to the point where genuine charitable good works should be a barrier to advancement. But we end up with an appearance that people get preferment as a result of paying a certain sum for a Labour government objective." Said Mr Lamb.

Two donors to Tony Blair's flagship education policy project were nominated for peerages because of their support for academy schools, Downing Street admitted today (15 April). In what will be seen as a clear link between peerages and donations, Number 10's 'citations' explaining the case for putting Sir David Garrard and Barry Townsley in the House of Lords 'prominently' featured their role in helping these inner city schools. The Prime Minister wanted their political support in the Lords for the controversial policy. Tony Blair thinks that anyone who gives their time, commitment and money to establish an academy - to help children in previously failing schools - 'had a strong claim to be considered for an honour'. Garrard gave £2.4m for an academy in Bexley, south London. Townsley gave £1.5m for another in west London. Both men's nominations were blocked earlier this year by the independent body that vets honours nominations.