A WEALTHY individual with links to Russia donated items for an auction to help fund the re-election campaign for Colchester’s MP.

Alexander Temerko, a former chief of a Russian arms company, gave two items which were auctioned off to help fund Will Quince’s bid.

The items raised £5,750.

The donation was declared in April 2019 as part of the register of members’ financial interests published by Parliament.

It was legal under electoral rules and properly declared.

It comes after The Times reported 14 Cabinet ministers and members of Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee, which published its long-awaited report into Russian interference in British democracy this week, had taken money from figures linked to Russia.

The committee’s report warned unnamed Kremlin-linked figures had given money to UK political parties in a move that could see them deployed to “assist” Moscow.

Mr Quince said the money raised from Mr Temerko had been used to help fund his election campaign.

He said: “I have known Alex for some time.

“He has never actually given me a penny. I met him through other MPs and invited him to a dinner I was organising.

“He bought a ticket in the normal way and he said he would like to help out and gave two items to auction on the night.

“These two items did raise a lot of money.

“He is not only a personal donor, he is a British citizen.”

Political parties accept donations to help them fund their campaigns in the run-up to polling night.

“We don’t get state aid or state funding for political parties, we have to raise it ourself for leaflets, rosettes and letters,” Mr Quince said.

“The Labour party does it through individuals and unions. We have private donations and here Alex donated two items.

“Some people will donate you £10 or £20 and other people more.

“Alex wants exactly the same as the gentleman or lady who donates £10 - a Conservative Government.”

“They are doing it for people they like and respect.”