Rowling donates 1 million pounds to Labour

London, Sep 20 (UNI) Author of the famous Harry Potter series J K Rowling has donated a million pounds to the Labour Party in Britain.

Labour is struggling with debts totalling 17.8 million pounds, most of which are due to borrowing to fund the 2005 general election campaign, the most expensive in the party's history.

A source said Ms Rowling's money would not only be used for debt repayments, but also allow the party to continue with its work.

The Daily Telegraph quoted Labour leader and Prime Minister Gordon Brown as saying, ''I am delighted that Ms Rowling, who is one of the world's greatest ever authors, has made such a generous donation.'' ''I thank her for supporting the Labour Party and our values of social justice and opportunity for all,'' he added.

Ms Rowling, whose fortune was estimated at 560 million pounds in this year's Sunday Times Rich List, said her gift was motivated by Labour's record on child poverty and Conservative leader David Cameron's offer of tax breaks to married couples.

''I believe that poor and vulnerable families will fare much better under the Labour Party than they would under a Cameron-led Conservative Party,'' she said.

''Mr Brown has consistently prioritised and introduced measures that will save as many children as possible from a life lacking in opportunity or choice. The Labour government has reversed the long-term trend in child poverty,'' the author said.

She added, ''David Cameron's promise of tax perks for the married, on the other hand, is reminiscent of the Conservative government I experienced as a lone parent. It sends the message that the Conservatives still believe a childless, dual-income, but married couple is more deserving of a financial pat on the head than those struggling, as I once was, to keep their families afloat in difficult times.'' UNI XC SKB SSC1452