UK Health State Secretary Alan Johnson, who addressed the Malta Labour Party’s Annual General Conference on Friday, has been accused of accepting a donation channelled through a third party during the UK Labour Party’s deputy leadership contest, the British press reported yesterday.

The Sunday Mirror said Mr Johnson’s 2007 campaign received £3,334 from a man who wrote a cheque on behalf of his brother, a local Labour Party official.

This was one of four undeclared donations totalling more than £9,000, which were received by Mr Johnson’s fund between April and July last year, but were not declared to the Electoral Commission in time, the British tabloid newspaper added.

However, the Health Secretary’s team has denied any wrongdoing, saying money was checked and registered.

The paper says Waseem Siddiqui was used to channel the gift to Mr Johnson’s failed campaign.

A statement from Mr Johnson’s deputy leadership campaign team said: “We had no reason to believe the donation came from anyone other than (Mr Siddiqui).

On Friday, Mr Johnson told MLP delegates in Hamrun he believed that only the MLP could lead Malta into the future “with its vision and integrity”.