THE Green Party has been forced to renew strenuous denials that a £250,000 donation influenced the decision not to stand in the Richmond by-election.

Caroline Lucas told the BBC on Wednesday the offer could not have swayed the party because it was made after their candidate Andree Frieze stood down.

Yesterday, The Guardian revealed leaked texts which seemed to indicate the offer was made before that decision was taken.

A payment to induce a candidate to stand down is a breach of the Representation of the People Act .

Liberal Democrat Sarah Olney overturned sitting MP Zac Goldsmith’s 23,000 majority in December.

In a statement the Green Party said: “No donation was offered on the basis that the Green Party should stand down in the Richmond by-election. Our one potential candidate, Andree Frieze, stood down on November 1.

“The texts that have been publicised are dated November 2.

“Caroline [Lucas] was right when she confirmed that Andree stood down before there was any discussion of a donation.

“The Green Party has stringent ethical criteria that all donations must meet.

“No donation was accepted in this period.”