NRI PLEDGES TO FUND GORDON BROWN'S CAMPAIGN
By Prasun Sonwalkar, London, 8 September 2007 (IANS)

There are few signs of Britain's new Prime Minister Gordon Brown ordering mid-term polls to capitalise on the 'Brown bounce' fed by high ratings, but adding fuel to the speculation is the public pledge by the two Indian-origin millionaires, Swraj Paul and Ghulam Noon, to fund a Brown-led Labour party election campaign. Another millionaire, Lakshmi Mittal, has so far not made public his intentions, but he has often donated to the Labour party in the past. The Labour party needs to clear debts of more than £20 million before it can consider a general election.

The next general election is due by May 2010, but hyperactive political pundits and media commentators - often the same people - believe that Brown will definitely seek to assure himself of a full five-year term by exploiting the current 'feel good' factor and calling for a mid-term poll later this year or in mid-2008.

Speaking on Channel 4 News, Paul said: "All I know is that if there is an election and the money is wanted, whatever I can pay, I will pay. I am a believer in (Gordon Brown) and his leadership." Asked how much he would be ready to give Labour, Paul said: "As much as I can afford." Paul's company, Caparo Industries, was the biggest donor to Brown's leadership campaign earlier this year with a gift of £45,000 pounds.

Paul is already seen as a close friend of Brown and his family, and his wealth is expected to have a key influence in deciding who wins the next general election. Soon after Brown took over as prime minister in June, Paul hosted him and his family at a private party at the London Zoo. Paul had dedicated a new bridge in the zoo's African bird park to the memory of Browns' late daughter, Jennifer.

Ghulam Noon, the Mumbai-born millionaire who sits at the head of an Indian food empire worth £70 million, has also announced his intentions to fund a Brown-led election campaign. He was one of the Labour supporters embroiled in the cash-for-honours scandal earlier this year. Noon's peerage in the House of Lords was blocked during Tony Blair's prime ministership after he was advised by the Labour party not to declare a £250,000 pound loan he had given. Noon is now ready to convert the loan into a donation after being impressed by Brown's record in office so far.

He told The Times: "I have met Brown on many occasions. He is a fine man and I have always admired the way he steered the economy of the country. At that time (of the cash-for-peerages investigation) I could not contemplate giving again.

"I was embroiled in a controversy. But New Labour has always been my party and I can return to it. And if it is possible to give, I will give. In fact, I am inclined to give." Noon joined the Labour party in 1995 and has often made donations to the party coffers.

He added: "New Labour wanted to free the market but also wished to introduce a minimum wage, which I supported because so many people were exploited, particularly in the catering industry. I liked Tony, but also I liked the party's values."

Brown passed his first electoral test after taking over as prime minister when party candidates won the two by-elections in Ealing Southall (Virendra Sharma) and Sedgefield (Phil Wilson) in July. The victories set off talk about Brown ordering mid-term elections, and speculation has mounted since.

Some polls have predicted that Brown will lead the Labour party to another resounding victory if the elections are held in the near future. But other polls warn that the party may win with a reduced majority. There are also reports of Labour leaders putting the party machinery into election gear, if only to keep the Conservatives on tenterhooks.

On his part, an impassive Brown has refused to be drawn into speculation about a mid-term poll. At his monthly press conference in 10, Downing Street, this week, he insisted that he was focussed on carrying on with the business of government.

However, whenever the next general election is held, it is clear that funds provided by Indian-origin millionaires will play a key role in the Labour party's campaign. There are no prominent Indian-origin donors to the Conservative party so far, but there are some individuals who have been Tory supporters in various parts of Britain.