Watford MP Richard Harrington has disavowed a Conservative fundraiser who supported his election campaign, after he was caught boasting he could deliver the Prime Minister’s phone number for cash donations.
Rickie Sehgal was recorded making claims, including that he could secure access to top Conservative ministers, in an undercover sting by a national newspaper.
The Daily Mail said Mr Sehgal, the chairman of British Asian Conservatives Link, told one of its reporters he could provide David Cameron’s personal phone number for a £10,000 donation.
Among the Conservative ministers and party members named as associates of Mr Sehgal in the paper was Watford’s MP Richard Harrington, who was a guest at the wedding of his son last year.
Mr Harrington also received support from the British Asian Conservatives Link during his successful 2010 election campaign.
Speaking to the Watford Observer Mr Harrington said he was not a friend of Mr Sehgal’s and described his claims as “totally stupid and ridiculous”.
He said: “It was totally stupid, ridiculous and irresponsible thing to do, saying you can have David Cameron’s phone number. It’s totally ridiculous.
“Is the Prime Minister going to give his phone number out for giving a donation? It’s not serious.
“I know he is a good loyal guy that helped me in Watford, but he got carried away and talked silly nonsense.”
The backbencher said he had attended Mr Sehgal’s son’s wedding last year as he knew the bride through a friend.
He said: “Have you ever been to an Indian wedding? There are six or seven hundred people there.
“His son married a daughter of a friend of mine. I went to the wedding with loads of people.”
Mr Harrington said he backed the Conservative Party’s move to disassociate itself from Mr Seghal’s comments.
“I knew him, but I know plenty of people,” The MP added. “He is not a friend of mine, but he did help me in the election.
“I have a lot of people of different ethnicities in my community and I am proud if they support me.”
Following the revelations about his comments over the weekend Mr Seghal told the paper that he was “embarrassed” by what he had said in front of the reporter.
He said he had been referring to a new group which is due to be formed, called Conservative Friends of India, which David Cameron was potentially launching.
Mr Seghal said the group’s executive would be made up of people who had donated £10,000.
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