Why Lord Ashcroft’s case is different

It is unpatriotic – the home secretary claimed – for the Tories to take so much money from a man who chooses not to be a full British taxpayer.

If so, all three of the UK’s major parties are unpatriotic because they have all taken major sums from so-called “non-doms”.

It is wrong, many say, and, indeed, it will soon be illegal to sit in Parliament making laws in Britain whilst avoiding paying taxes here.

If so, Lord Ashcroft is not the only one doing so. Lord Paul – a Labour donor – is also a “non-dom” and Gordon Brown promoted him to the Privy Council.

So, what then makes the man who thinks he may be the biggest political donor in British political history different?

In part it is because Ashcroft is a four-letter word to opponents who not only resent but fear both his money and also his role at Tory HQ where he’s masterminding a hugely costly and ruthlessly effective campaign to target voters in the seats that could clinch the next election.

In part it is because for 10 years he and successive Tory leaders have dodged questions about his tax status.

In part it is because the only reason he’s revealed it now is because the secret assurances which secured him a peerage after it was at first turned down were about to be revealed after a Freedom of Information request.

The questions about Lord Ashcroft will continue. They will only impact on the election though if it’s David Cameron and not him who feels uncomfortable.