A link has been revealed between a political scandal that rocked Westminster and a local Conservative Association.

The Guardian reported that the former chairman of Carmarthen west and south Pembrokeshire Conservatives Association, lobbyist Stephen Crouch, had given £20,000 to Adam Werritty, the man whose working relationship with Defence Secretary Liam Fox led to him leaving his Cabinet post.

Mr Crouch was said to have been granted a meeting with an arms sales minister at the request of Mr Fox following the ‘donation’ and there have been calls for a full investigation.

The Conservative donor and activist is still listed as chairman on South Pembrokeshire MP Simon Hart’s website but Mr Hart told the Western Telegraph he left in 2010.

A donation of £5,000 to Mr Hart’s campaign was also said to be made by Heritage Oil boss Tony Buckingham via Mr Crouch.

Mr Hart said that Mr Crouch was prepared to work hard for the team on a voluntary basis.

“He was a keen and willing volunteer and we certainly never had any conversation that connected him with the likes of Adam Werritty. It was as much of a surprise to us as it was to everyone else,” said Mr Hart.

He added that as Mr Crouch was a volunteer he was not expected to disclose work arrangements.

Mr Hart had said that Mr Crouch was jokingly referred to as the spy.

“But if you met him he was the most unlikely spy – he was more like Keith Floyd than James Bond, he was an interesting and colourful character,” he added.

Speaking to The Guardian, Mr Crouch denied being a donor, stating he had paid Mr Werritty a flat fee for services.

katy.woodhouse@ westerntelegraph.co.uk