Cashcroft v small donations

Looks like the net's closing in on Lord Ashcroft.

When he was granted a peerage in 2000 he gave an undertaking that he would be a permanent UK resident.

Since then every Tory leader has tried to fudge the issue over whether he's been as good as his word.

I tried again today with Ashcroft's line manager but still no joy.

Today's Guardian reveals that the Information Commissioner has had enough and wants a straight answer in 35 days.

Perhaps Hague asked him on their last jaunt together to Cuba. Looks like he was Havana whale of a time with Ashcroft. Wonder if he asked about his tax status over cocktails?

The point is this election is going to be David v Goliath when it comes to party financing.

But that's not a bad thing. In fact, I think it's an advantage and a good precedent for the future.

The Tories spent £500,000 on THAT Cameron poster. Within a couple of hours, we put up our response.

This inspried others to do their own. mydavidcameron.com kindly credit us as giving them the idea to allow others to make their own posters. Within a few days, mydavidcameron.com became the most popular UK political website.

Twitter and Facebook are also allowing us to listen, communicate and organise outside the mainstream media channels who rarely gave us a good press.

This weekend I'll be kicking off our Go Fourth's election campaign in Leeds, going round the country, getting our members and supporters ready for the political fight of our lives.

It'll be funded - as we did our Euro election campaign - by small donations. We raised more than £3,500 from my signed books that all went into covering the cost of hiring the mini bus, our stickers, leaflets and pledgecards.

Alastair's launched a similar initiative today, signing copies of his Blair Diaries and giving the profits to the party.

It may not be Ashcrofts's millions. But it's good clean money - support with no strings attached!

Can the Tories say the same?