Labour treasurer faces challenge

A human rights barrister is to take on Jack Dromey in a David and Goliath battle for the job of Labour Party Treasurer. Dromey (pictured), a Labour party dinosaur who is also deputy general-secretary of the TGWU union, a member of Labour's national executive, and the husband of party chair Harriet Harman, has held the job during the period in which the cash-for-honours scandal has rocked the party and, more recently, his wife and others - notably Peter Hain - have been caught up in the row over proxy donors.

Mark McDonald, who describes himself as a long-standing Labour activist and blogs on Labourhome, a little-known blog modelled on the Tory grassroots website Conservativehome, says: "I would bring to the role a respect for the law and an understanding of how to read it. But most importantly, I would bring a belief in governance and accountability, a willingness to ask difficult questions and to be accountable to the NEC and to party members and affiliates."

McDonald has been careful not to accuse anyone of anything. "Though it seems mistakes have been made, I don't believe that there is evidence of corruption in Labour Party fundraising; but it is not about evidence, it is about perception and it is clear that we as a party have suffered badly from both the cash for honours inquiry and the debacle over donations."

Labourhome is said to have promised to "throw its weight" behind McDonald's campaign. He has to register by April 1 if his challenge is to be considered at the Labour conference in October. Jack Dromey was not immediately available for comment. It is widely assumed he will seek re-relection, despite recent local difficulties on the fundraising front.