Taken directly from news feed word for word:
Tory leader Michael Howard has reportedly handed back half a million pounds to the Conservatives' biggest donor, Lord Ashcroft.
The Sunday Times says the cash was returned after the peer warned the party was heading for another General Election defeat.
The paper also reports he could now call in loans worth millions.
The businessman apparently confronted party co-chairman Lord Saatchi with "evidence" that the Conservatives were facing another poll disaster.
A friend told the paper: "Lord Ashcroft has been advised that the party will lose the election.
"He's been saying it very, very actively, and they don't like having people around who tell the truth."
With an election expected on May 5, the Tories are still £5m short of the £25m they need for their fighting fund.
Lord Ashcroft apparently pledged a six-figure sum for the war chest last month.
But The Sunday Times says a similar sum was repaid to him at a private dinner 10 days ago.
Party officials have suggested they were simply repaying a loan early, but a spokesman refused to comment.
Lord Ashcroft kept the Tories afloat with a series of seven-figure gifts after John Major's defeat in 1997 and was awarded a peerage in 2000 by William Hague.
Shadow work and pensions secretary David Willetts told Sky News' Sunday with Adam Boulton: "I don't believe that Michael Ashcroft has asked for any money back.
"As to exactly what financial transactions have taken place, I don't know."
He added that he had seen Mr Ashcroft "supporting the party" at fund-raising events in the past week.
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This isn't labour making these statements but the biggest donator to the tory party so we know where his allegiance lies, so if one of their biggest supporters makes these claims then there must be something in it.
I particularly liked the bit about the tories not liking anyone telling the truth, yep that just about sums them up as the party of deceit,and hype.
It also seems he has now fallen out of favour, after his money had bought him a peerage, so a word of warning to others stupid enough to donate money to the tories, pay your money but don't have an opinion that doesn't fit in with the party's as once they have used you and abused you, they will dispose of you.
Tory leader Michael Howard has reportedly handed back half a million pounds to the Conservatives' biggest donor, Lord Ashcroft.
The Sunday Times says the cash was returned after the peer warned the party was heading for another General Election defeat.
The paper also reports he could now call in loans worth millions.
The businessman apparently confronted party co-chairman Lord Saatchi with "evidence" that the Conservatives were facing another poll disaster.
A friend told the paper: "Lord Ashcroft has been advised that the party will lose the election.
"He's been saying it very, very actively, and they don't like having people around who tell the truth."
With an election expected on May 5, the Tories are still £5m short of the £25m they need for their fighting fund.
Lord Ashcroft apparently pledged a six-figure sum for the war chest last month.
But The Sunday Times says a similar sum was repaid to him at a private dinner 10 days ago.
Party officials have suggested they were simply repaying a loan early, but a spokesman refused to comment.
Lord Ashcroft kept the Tories afloat with a series of seven-figure gifts after John Major's defeat in 1997 and was awarded a peerage in 2000 by William Hague.
Shadow work and pensions secretary David Willetts told Sky News' Sunday with Adam Boulton: "I don't believe that Michael Ashcroft has asked for any money back.
"As to exactly what financial transactions have taken place, I don't know."
He added that he had seen Mr Ashcroft "supporting the party" at fund-raising events in the past week.
......................................................................................................................................................................................................................
This isn't labour making these statements but the biggest donator to the tory party so we know where his allegiance lies, so if one of their biggest supporters makes these claims then there must be something in it.
I particularly liked the bit about the tories not liking anyone telling the truth, yep that just about sums them up as the party of deceit,and hype.
It also seems he has now fallen out of favour, after his money had bought him a peerage, so a word of warning to others stupid enough to donate money to the tories, pay your money but don't have an opinion that doesn't fit in with the party's as once they have used you and abused you, they will dispose of you.
