Union barons handed Ed Miliband more than £1.6million in the first week of the election campaign – treble the donations received by the Tories . Figures released by the Electoral Commission revealed that Labour received £1.9million in the week to April 5 , with 84 per cent coming from just three trade unions . It included a £1million cheque from Unite , entrenching Labour ’ s reliance on the union ’ s militant boss Len McCluskey . Ed Miliband received £1.6m from union barons in the first week of the election campaign , figures have revealed . Conservative donations totalled just over £500,000 in the first week of the campaign , with about a quarter coming from donors with links to hedge funds . Critics have accused Labour of being bound by its union paymasters after the party unveiled policies including raising corporation tax , introducing a mansion tax , repealing the benefits cap , nationalising the railways and scrapping employment tribunal fees . Since Mr Miliband became party leader , thanks largely to union backing , nearly £7 in every £10 donated to Labour has come from the unions – amounting to more than £40million . In the first round of election donations registered , £506,240 was given by Unison , while the CWU gave £51,072 . Labour received a £1million cheque from Unite , entrenching Labour ’ s reliance on the union ’ s militant boss Len McCluskey ( pictured ) The party did attract one large business donation , from property tycoon Sir David Garrard . The former tax exile , who was involved in the cash-for-honours controversy , gave £250,000 . Ukip received only £35,416 in the period but last night its coffers were boosted by a £1million donation from Daily Express owner Richard Desmond , who gave £300,000 last year . In the week to April 5 , the Conservatives received £501,850 and the Lib Dems £20,000 . One of the most generous gifts to the Tories – £75,000 – came from Michael Tory , who was in charge of Lehman Brothers ’ UK investment banking division when the bank nearly crashed the West ’ s economy . Sawsan Asfari , wife of long-time Tory donor and oil executive Ayman Asfari , gave £20,000 . Syrian-born Mr Asfari , who has given the Tories about £400,000 , was made a ‘ business ambassador ’ by David Cameron last year . Home insurance boss Richard Harpin of Homeserve gave £50,000 . His company was fined £30million last year for a mis-selling scandal . Hedge fund manager , James Diner , who once dated model Caprice , gave £25,000 while socialite Fitriani Hay , who co-owns property development firm JMP Group with her racehorse-owning husband James , donated £66,850 . Ukip received £25,000 from Robin Birley , who is also bankrolling Tory chief whip Michael Gove ’ s re-election campaign . Nick Clegg ’ s friend Anthony Ullmann , boss of polyester yarn company Autofil , and Joseph Zammit-Lucia , who describes himself as a ‘ compulsive contrarian ’ on his website , each gave £10,000 to the Lib Dems . Tory candidate Henry Smith said : ‘ The union fatcats have once again lavished the dosh on Ed Miliband . That ’ s because they know he ’ s a weak leader who ’ ll dance to more than one tune : not only SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon ’ s , but their ’ s too . Those tunes mean more spending , more borrowing and Britain back to bankruptcy. ’ Conservative donations totalled just over £500,000 in the first week of the campaign , with about a quarter coming from donors with links to hedge funds . David Cameron and Ed Miliband are indulging in fantasy economics , the TaxPayers ’ Alliance claimed . It said both parties were making unrealistic spending pledges to win votes . The think-tank ’ s Jonathan Isaby said : ‘ It ’ s clear that nobody is facing up to the true scale of the deficit reduction challenge . 'It is a fantasy to pretend that you can balance Britain ’ s books without significant spending reductions , and politicians must come clean about what they will be . Voters deserve real honesty . ’
Labour received £1.9million in week to April 5 , new figures have revealed . Three trade unions contributed 84 per cent , including £1million from Unite . Conservative donations totalled over £500,000 in first week of campaign . Critics say Labour is being bound by union paymasters after manifesto .