‘Curry King’ adds £2,500 spice to Oona King’s fighting fund

Oona King won the backing of another business tycoon today as Sir Gulam Noon donated £2,500 to her campaign to be Mayor.

The curry magnate became the latest in a growing line of City figures to throw their weight behind the former MP.

Sir Gulam, who gave up his non-dom status to raise funds for Gordon Brown before the general election, is one of Britain's most prominent Asian businessmen.

Ms King, who is fighting Ken Livingstone for the Labour candidacy, has received £10,000 from City financier Nigel Doughty, co-founder of one of Britain's oldest private equity houses.

Her campaign coffers, at least £50,000 strong, have also been boosted by £7,000 from private equity millionaire Sir Ronald Cohen and £10,000 from media tycoon Lord Alli, both well known Labour supporters.

She has also been backed by two trades unions, including the shopworkers' union Usdaw, which gave £5,000.

Financial backing for Mr Livingstone, put so far at £35,000, has come almost exclusively from trades unions on the Left of the Labour Party.

The former mayor was close to many City figures when in power but some of his policies since, designed to woo Labour's core vote, have frustrated some in financial services.

Mr Livingstone has argued for a 60 per cent tax rate for people earning more than £200,000 a year, but Ms King believes the 50 per cent threshold about right.