Tory MP accuses Tony Blair charity of political links

Fundraising | Vibeka Mair | 6 Apr 2010

Shadow treasury minister Greg Hands has written to Dame Suzi Leather asking for an investigation into whether a charity set up by Tony Blair has misused personal data for politcial purposes.

In the letter to the Charity Commission chair, seen by Civil Society, Hands (pictured) complains that supporters of the Tony Blair Governance Initiative (AGI), a registered charity, "could have had their details shared and passed onto a newly created website supporting the Labour Party and created by one of Tony Blair's companies".

He also said that Blair’s new website tonyblair4labour.org had stated in its privacy policy that it would both receive and share information with AGI.

“This privacy policy has recently been amended,” wrote Hands. “However, it still states material could be transferred to third parties and that visitors will receive ‘information about the activities of Tony Blair and his Labour Party activities’.

“I have provided screenshots from the original website in a separate document.”

“With these facts in mind, I believe Tony Blair’s AGI website is in potential breach of charity rules that prevent charities from supporting political parties in any fashion.”

According to The Daily Telegraph,Blair has denied any impropriety and insisted his political and charitable activities were being kept separate.

The Charity Commission said it was yet to receive Hands' letter and so could not comment on its contents.

Directory: Charity Commission

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