LABOUR MPs have been scratching their heads and wondering aloud why on earth the Justice Secretary Jack Straw has been so insistent on opposing a change to the law that would prevent non-UK residents from donating cash to political parties here.

There is, of course, much resentment at the fact that mulit-millionaire Lord Ashcroft was allowed to buy so many seats for the Tories at the last election, even when the circumstances of his tax arrangements aren’t as clear as most reasonable people might expect (there — that got past the lawyers okay…).

But until now Straw has opposed the change even though there are strong principled as well as political reasons for incorporating it in law.

He’s finally caved in, but why on earth didi it take so long? Much of the cash has already been spent in an attempt t buy David Cameron a majority at the next election, so this change will only have a major impact on the subsequent general election which, under the new rules will have to be fought on a level playing field — an idea fiercely opposed by the Tories.

“Officials’ advice” was written all over Jack’s previous opposition to this change and I’m glad he’s finally rejected it. But this is a change that should have been agreed ten years ago.