As there are no donations, the media have moved onto Osborne's judgement. As he has stated that he will not take lawyers, this has given reporters to state with licence what would usually be viewed as libellous. Seeking a donation is an offence, but discussing a donation is not.
Labour have puffed up this non-scandal:
Opposition MPs, peers and standards watchdogs said the affair raised serious doubts about his position. John Mann, a Labour MP, demanded an Electoral Commission investigation into whether Mr Osborne and Mr Feldman had broken the law.
"Andrew Feldman has to be sacked and David Cameron also has to remove Mr Osborne as his shadow chancellor," Mr Mann said.
Sir Alistair also criticised Mr Osborne's conduct. "He is in very difficult territory – shadow chancellors should be very wary of people they may need to deal with when in office in the future," he said.
"I am surprised these discussions are taking place when UK law makes it very clear that you have to be on the electoral register to donate money. The Conservative Party is overflowing with money so I find the whole thing rather bizarre."
Disingenuous vitriol from two political parties that actually received money from disreputable parties, one of which appears to have been in return for favours. Unlucky for the Tories in the near-term, but sinning with politicians should not cast stones. They boomerang.