He’s the rent-a-quote politician who, when it comes to TV, just can’t say no.

Ed Vaizey, the loyal Cameroon and Shadow Culture Minister tipped for a big promotion in the next reshuffle, has been passionate about transparency in campaign funding to restore the public’s trust.

He told Andrew Neil on the Daily Politics on 16 March 2006:

“I will go from this programme to urge my leader to declare loans if they’re not declared…

“The issue here is should loans be declared. Yes. The point you’re making is absolutely right, the point about the declaration of loans and gifts is transparent so that people know who is donating to a political party and then they’re able to make a decision.”

Ed’s even taken to his blog to moralise about funding failings of others, writing on November 26 2007:

“The resignation of Labour’s general secretary over the latest party funding scandal loses the last shred of credibility Labour has over this issue.

“We will wait to see just how shameless they are.”

As shameless as you Ed?

Remember our story about Nuts and our follow-up that Vaizey, Gove and Grant Shapps were elected thanks to Red Fig, the company who helped set up Nuts TV and I’m a Celebrity?

That’s Red Fig, Ed!

Remember?

They paid the Wantage Conservative Association £1,500 to get you elected. It’s here in the Electoral Commission register.

But more importantly, IT AIN’T HERE.

Gove and Shapps knew they had to to declare within 30 days of the donation or at the earliest opportunity in the Register of Members’ Interests.

But it seems Ed Vaizey has been in breach of the ‘Code of Conduct to the Rules Relating to the Conduct of Members’ for more than THREE YEARS by failing to declare Red Fig’s money. (Surely this is a Commons record!)

The register quite clearly says:

4. In this section the Member is required to register any donation of more than £1,000 received by the constituency association which is linked either to candidacy at an election or to membership of the House, and also any other form of financial or material support as a Member.

As the donation was received on Feb 18 2005 and similar donations to Gove and Shappss associations were declared by both MPs, it seems pretty unlikely Vaizey can claim it’s not a linked donation to ‘candidacy at an election.’

If a complaint is made, Vaizey faces being forced to apologise to the House and could also be suspended from the Commons - raising questions about whether he’s fit to join Michael Gove in the Shadow Cabinet. (Note to self - must keep straight face.)

Frankly we’re with Iain Dale on this one. This is what Dalecroft said about Peter Hain failing to declare donations.

“Now I suppose it’s possible to argue that Hain didn’t “deliberately” withhold information, but that is just semantics. He failed in his statutory and legal duties to declare donations. NO IFS, NO BUTS. He must now face the consequences - and if Gordon Brown can’t see that, it’s yet another reason why he is not fit to be Prime Minister. And there are plenty of others.”

We look forward to Dalecroft’s condemnation of Vaizey later today. NO IFS OR BUTS, IAIN!

P.S. It’s ironic that whilst Vaizey chose not to declare a campaign donation - which could put paid to his shadow ministerial career - he didn’t forget the TV payments.

Recess Monkey is drawn to this particular entry.

2. Remunerated employment, office, profession etc
Fees from appearance on ‘Don’t Call Me Stupid’. (£5,001-£10,000) (Registered 20 June 2007)

Ed….

You’re stupid!