Peter Hoskin

Unless they defuse the issue, the Tories will face Ashcroft questions every day until the election

If PMQs today showed anything, it’s just how eager the Tories’ opponents are to bring up the issue of Lord Ashcroft.  Vince Cable set the ball rolling by referring to the Tory deputy chairman as a “non dom”, and Harriet Harman gleefully followed up by firing questions in William Hague’s direction.  She was cut off – and rightly so – by John Bercow.  But the insinuations about the Lord and his tax status had already been made.

Now, you could say that this is pretty low stuff from Labour and the Lib Dems.  After all, David Cameron pledged earlier this week to legislate so that all MPs and peers are UK taxpayers.  And a spokesman for Ashcroft responded: “This will not represent a problem for Lord Ashcroft who looks forward to many happy years in the House of Lords.” 

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