Ken's secret donation by property boss

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The Mayor received the £30,000 knowing it was from multi-millionaire Sharad Patel who wants to build a £120 million theme park and leisure complex in north-west London, then claimed he knew nothing of who his donors were.

He saw the cheque, from Mr Patel's wife made out to the Labour Party, and agreed to meet him for dinner, once his 2004 election campaign was over.

The revelation means the Mayor misled the public when he repeatedly denied he was aware of who had donated money to him in 2004.

Last week he said: "The mayor should not be involved in fundraising. I wasn't last time, I don't want to be this time."

Mr Livingstone is under pressure to name the donors to his re-election campaign. Cash for his attempt to gain a third term in City Hall is funnelled through the Labour Party and donors' identities will not be revealed until after the 1 May poll.

Mr Patel has been attempting for 15 years to build a theme park, hotel and leisure complex called the Asia Centre on derelict land in Park Royal but has been locked in a long-running battle over it with Brent council.

The Mayor, who has massive power over planning in London, expressed his support for the scheme shortly before he received the cheque, which was given to a senior aide in a coffee shop. The aide, Atma Singh, rushed to show the Mayor the cheque and said: "He was delighted."

After Mr Livingstone was shown the cheque, one of his senior aides made a string of visits to the local council to discuss the scheme.

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