Donations row: paper's story denied

In the story, he was quoted as saying he would come out fighting if he took a "hammering" from the Government.

It was also reported that he said he had made his donations, totalling more than £650,000, through intermediaries because he feared he would be accused of being part of a "Jewish conspiracy" if his identity was known.

The Jewish Chronicle said he had made it clear that he would fight back if he started to come under pressure. "If the Government starts hammering me, then it might take one or two dirty turns there as well," it reported.

But later Mr Minns made denials concerning the Jewish Chronicle's story, saying: "He wanted to remain anonymous to protect his privacy - and for no other reason.

"All week he has refused to give the Jewish Chronicle an interview and this report warrants no further comment."

However, the editor of the Jewish Chronicle, David Rowan, told BBC2's Newsnight that they were standing by their story.

"We talked to David Abrahams by phone at the beginning of this week's news cycle and we have notes backing everything," he said. "He subsequently didn't grant a full one-to-one interview but we stand by everything."

Scotland Yard has launched an investigation into Mr Abrahams' donations after receiving a file from the Electoral Commission. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has already said that they were not lawfully declared and that the money would be repaid.

Mr Abrahams said that since the news of his donations broke last week, he had been subjected to "character assassination, conjecture and speculation". He flatly denied any suggestion that the money was not really his and had come from Israel.