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Courtesy Independent.................
David Cameron humiliated me, says Peter Cruddas - the man who bankrolled the Tory party
Ex-treasurer attacks PM after victory in'cash-for-access' case
One of the Conservatives' largest donors launched a scathing attack on the party he once bankrolled,
accusing David Cameron and his officials of subjecting him to "public humiliation" over false "cash
for access" allegations.
Peter Cruddas, the Tories' former treasurer, said he was "cut off" and "made to feel like an outcast"
within hours of the publication of a newspaper report that claimed he was offering Tory donors
inappropriate access to the Prime Minister for a fee of £250,000.
Today the High Court ruled in favour of Mr Cruddas in his libel claim against The Sunday Times
for defamation and malicious falsehood, and awarded him £180,000 in damages.
The judge said the story, based on an undercover "sting" operation, had given a highly misleading
impression of Mr Cruddas's conduct. He said the report of what he said was "completely
unacceptable and wrong".
Speaking after the judgment Mr Cruddas - who has donated £1.2m to the party since Mr Cameron
became leader in 2005 - attacked not just The Sunday Times but also the Conservatives, and
specifically Mr Cameron, for rushing to judgement.
"The Conservative Party cut me off within two hours of the story breaking and did not want to hear
my side of the story," he said. "I was constructively dismissed from my role as party treasurer and
made to feel like an outcast as the Prime Minister and the party lined up to criticise me on television
and radio. This hurt me immensely and further damaged my reputation.