MORE sleaze allegations trouble the Tories today - over a fund-raising club whose members pay thousands of pounds to dine with ministers, including Premier John Major.

But what is on the menu may be somewhat different from the stated opportunities for businessmen to have a positive exchange of views with top politicians over a plate of roast lamb and for the Conservative Party to boost its coffers in return.

For, according to allegations in a Sunday newspaper, its reporter, posing as an assistant to a wealthy businessman, was told by the membership secretary of the exclusive Premier Club how to disguise his gift to the party in company accounts as "entertainment."

Furthermore, the club itself is chaired by property tycoon John Beckwith who is said to be interested in securing big contracts from the Minister of Defence and Department of Social Security.

Thus, the question is whether the diners, paying as much as £100,000 a year, are in the business of buying government favours, or whether ministers are simply engaged in a version of innocent fund-raising. Let there be answers, then.

And we share the calls of the outraged opposition - hurling allegations of sleaze and corruption about the Commons - for the Nolan committee on standards in public life to examine party funding.

For if it did, we are sure that the only proper recommendation would be for all donations and income received by all political parties to be a matter of public record - as both democracy and integrity demand openness in such matters.

There are two reasons why people support a political party with money.

One is out of honest commitment to its cause.

The other, far less noble, is in order to get something back in return.

Not only would the distinction between the two motives be much clearer if party funding was subject to public scrutiny, but the incentive for corruption would also be diminished.

With his administration already terribly tarred by allegations of sleaze, John Major and the Tories cannot afford to suffer more - and they should dispel them by opening the books.

Otherwise, a disenchanted electorate will serve them their last supper.

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