Ex-Lib Dem peer Lord Oakeshott splits £610,000 between Labour, LibDems and Greens

Former Lib Dem peer Lord Oakeshott (he of the controversial constituency polls and bodged anti-Clegg coup attempt) has given £300,000 to 30 Labour Parliamentary candidates up against Tories or Ukip, £300,000 to 15 Lib Dems and £10,000 to the Green MP Caroline Lucas:

Britain stands on the edge of a cliff with the general election only 105 days away. Will we vote Tory or Ukip for Euro referendum chaos, lasting two years at least and putting thousands of businesses, millions of jobs and our long term peace and security at risk?

Or will Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green and all progressive voters come together in the marginal seats that matter to elect a Parliament for progress and reform and a Labour-led Government with Ed Miliband as prime minister?

The Lib Dems are:

• Norman Baker MP (Lewes)
• Lorley Burt (Solihull)
• Helen Flynn (Harrogate & Knaresborough)
• Martin Horwood MP (Cheltenham)
• Ros Kayes (Dorset West)
• Tessa Munt MP (Wells)
• Julie Porksen (Berwick-upon-Tweed)
• Jackie Porter (Winchester)
• John Pugh MP (Southport)
• David Rendel (Somerton & Frome)
• Dan Rogerson MP (North Cornwall)
• Adrian Sanders MP (Torbay)
• Vikki Slade (Mid Dorset & North Poole)
• Dorothy Thornhill (Watford)
• Jenny Willott MP (Cardiff Central)

Oddly, given Oakeshott’s political contacts and his propensity to spend on polling, these are rather different from what the party’s own polling and other data points to being the best 15 for him to have selected based on his stated criteria. Which suggests there may be a little more at work as to who was asked and accepted donations…

It does, however, mean that Lord Oakeshott has now spent more on trying to help Lib Dems win constituency contests than he spent on trying to change the party’s leader. And after the previous controversies, it is wise for all concerned that Vince Cable doesn’t feature in the Lib Dem list.