Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:30pm on 02 Jan 2024,Tuesday International
Newly released files from the National Archives show that Srichand P Hinduja, embroiled in the “cash-for-passports” scandal, asked a British diplomat in 2001 if he should avoid returning to the UK until after the general election. Hinduja had donated £1m to Labour's Millennium Dome project while applying for a passport, leading to Peter Mandelson's resignation. Hinduja was concerned about becoming embroiled in a scandal damaging to Labour before the election. The diplomat gave no advice. The archives also showed the Conservatives questioned Tony Blair about his links to Hinduja amid the scandal. Though Hinduja was cleared of wrongdoing, the scandal harmed Labour ahead of the 2001 polls.
