Burnham accused of U-turn after initially backing political donations cap to fall below £500k

Other campaigners, including the broadcaster Carol Vorderman, are urging Andy Burnham not to back down over a donations cap in the face of opposition from trade unions. Photograph: WPA/Getty View image in fullscreen Other campaigners, including the broadcaster Carol Vorderman, are urging Andy Burnham not to back down over a donations cap in the face of opposition from trade unions. Photograph: WPA/Getty Burnham accused of U-turn after initially backing political donations cap to fall below £500k Exclusive: Campaigner says PM wrote in email he believed £500k cap should be reduced over time to guard against undue influences Andy Burnham recently supported an even lower donations cap than previously reported, according to correspondence seen , as the row over next week’s elections bill escalates. The prime minister wrote to a campaigner in May outlining his support for a £500,000 individual donations cap, which he said would “guard against the perception of any one party being unduly influenced or swayed ”. In a follow-up email seen , Burnham went on to say he believed the cap should gradually be reduced – a proposal now being put forward . Campaigners are accusing Burnham of a U-turn after the Guardian reported the prime minister had decided not to back the attempts a donations cap in next week’s elections bill. In his first message to Shaun Bowler, who runs the website wakeupgb. co. uk, Burnham wrote: “I do think there should be a cap on political donations. This would guard against the perception of any one party being unduly influenced or swayed . “As to the level, I think that would have to be subject to wider review of political funding but my gut feeling would suggest somewhere in the region of £500k.” In a second message, the then would-be MP for Makerfield said: “[I] would definitely want to see that reduced over time. I am in complete agreement that there needs to be wholesale culture change in Westminster.” Bowler has now written to the prime minister accusing him of abandoning his previous commitments. He wrote: “It appears you are going to break your promise to me – and the nation …. Weeks after being elected, you have made your first major U-turn.” Burnham drops support for political funding cap aimed at curbing mega-donors He added: “This is your chance to actually deliver the start of that cleanup. Show us that politics can be clean and trustworthy. Don’t surrender to the mess.” Other campaigners, including the broadcaster Carol Vorderman, are also urging the prime minister not to back down in the face of opposition from trade unions, who have warned that a donations cap could undermine their ability to contribute to the Labour party.