PM defends Johnson over donation

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He told GMTV, in a response to a question about whether Mr Johnson's job was safe: "He has reported everything to the Electoral Commission. It is for them to make up their mind. But I think he has answered all the questions that have been put to him and we have got to get on with the business of government now."

Asked about whether he could afford to lose another member of his Cabinet, Mr Brown replied: "There is no case for doing so, but it is up to the Electoral Commission and they will report on this. But he has answered all the questions that have been put to him and he has done nothing that is corrupt and nothing that is about foreign donations, or anything like that."

Mr Brown's comments come after hopes were dashed that Peter Hain's resignation might ease the pressure over donations scandals.

It was revealed that Mr Johnson accepted more than £3,000 for his Labour deputy leadership campaign from a "proxy" donor.

The Health Secretary mounted a bullish defence on Sunday, insisting that his team had been "100% honest" and more than fulfilled its legal obligations to check the source of the cash.

However, there is still confusion over whether four donations - including the one illegally "channelled" through migrant Waseem Siddiqui - were properly declared to the Electoral Commission. There is also deep frustration in Labour circles that the row has scotched efforts to shift the agenda away from their funding woes and on to policy.

The situation emerged when the Sunday Mirror tracked down Mr Siddiqui and he admitted that he had "no idea" who Mr Johnson was - despite having given £3,334 to his campaign in May.

The 50-year-old Pakistani said his brother-in-law Ahmed Yar Mohammed - treasurer of Croydon Central Labour Party - asked him to write a cheque, and then gave him the money. Mr Mohammed confirmed on Sunday night that he used his brother-in-law to channel the cash, but insisted there had been no intention to conceal the source.

"As a long-standing Labour Party member I wanted to show my support for Alan Johnson by making a contribution to his deputy leadership election campaign," he said in a statement.