Ashcroft's Millions

6.30.00pm GMT Tue 2nd Mar 2010

Following the admission by Tory donor Lord Ashcroft that he is non-domicile Graham Oakes has challenged the local Tories to also come clean.

"The people of Exeter have the right to know how much is the local Tory party and their candidate in debt to Lord Ashcroft. He has been giving large amounts to marginal seats, in at least one case he has given £55,700. We should know how much he has already spent in Exeter"

"Exeter is not for sale. The voters cannot be bought"

"The Conservatives have evaded questions about Lord Ashcroft's tax status for years. We now know the truth - he does not pay tax on his worldwide earnings in the UK and has avoided paying up to £127m in tax.

"It has taken a decade for him to finally admit he is not a permanent resident, the very condition he agreed to in order to become a Peer.

"The Conservatives think they can throw money from Belize at Exeter and buy the seat. They clearly under-estimate the people of Exeter who know the Tories are trying to airbrush their record of pandering to the super-rich and ignoring everyone else."