Liberal Democrats raised more money through donations than Labour in the last three months of last year, thanks to a £1 million gift from a green philanthropist, new figures have revealed.
Party sources said that it was the first time the Lib Dems had outstripped Labour in fundraising over a quarter, taking in donations totalling £1,972,904 compared to £1,970,055 for Jeremy Corbyn's party.
The million-pound gift came from Gregory Nasmyth, a former journalist who has devoted himself to charitable giving after making a fortune from last year's £950 million sale of his family's Argus Media oil data company.
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According to Electoral Commission records it is the first time that Mr Nasmyth has made a donation as an individual to a political party.