Theresa May says she WON'T return £135,000 from ex-Putin crony's wife

Theresa May says she WON'T return £135,000 from ex-Putin crony's wife after she handed over the cash to dine with the PM and her female ministers £135,000 was paid to Tories by wife of Vladimir Putin’s ex-minister for night out Despite mounting criticism the Prime Minister has insisted she won't return cash She said it was above aboard because the ex-minister had become British citizen

By John Stevens Claire Ellicott And Jack Doyle For The Daily Mail

Published: 22:42 BST, 1 May 2019 | Updated: 22:57 BST, 1 May 2019

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Theresa May has insisted she will not return £135,000 paid to the Tories by the wife of one of Vladimir Putin’s ex-ministers for a night out with her and female members of her Cabinet.

Despite mounting criticism, the Prime Minister insisted last night that the donation was above aboard because Lubov Chernukhin had become a British citizen.

But Sir Alistair Graham, the former head of Britain’s sleaze watchdog, joined opposition parties yesterday in urging the Tories to return the money.

Theresa May has insisted she will not return £135,000 paid to the Tories by the wife of one of Vladimir Putin¿s ex-ministers for a night out with her and female members of her Cabinet. Despite mounting criticism, the Prime Minister insisted last night that the donation was above aboard because Lubov Chernukhin had become a British citizen. Pictured: Lubov Chernukhin (right) with singer Valeriya (centre) in London

Theresa May has insisted she will not return £135,000 paid to the Tories by the wife of one of Vladimir Putin’s ex-ministers for a night out with her and female members of her Cabinet. Despite mounting criticism, the Prime Minister insisted last night that the donation was above aboard because Lubov Chernukhin had become a British citizen. Pictured: Lubov Chernukhin (right) with singer Valeriya (centre) in London

Mrs Chernukhin, whose husband Vladimir was a finance minister under Mr Putin, successfully bid the six-figure sum at a Tory fundraising auction for the dinner, which was held at the five-star Goring Hotel in London on Monday.

She was entertained by Mrs May and six Cabinet ministers during a three-course meal of asparagus, beef Wellington and Eton mess.

The £135,000 bid takes Mrs Chernukhin’s donations to the Tories past £1million in seven years.

When Mrs May became Prime Minister in 2016, her aides said she would take a different approach to her predecessor

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