THE millionaire boss of Darlington's biggest employer was last night named as having loaned the Labour Party £1m.

Rod Aldridge, the Sussex-born executive chairman of Capita - which delivers a range of services on behalf of central and local government as well as private businesses throughout the country - is one of 12 wealthy businessmen to have backed the party.

Labour published the names last night as the Government announced that political parties must declare all future loans - and possibly past ones as well.

It showed Labour borrowed £13,950,000 from the 12 employers towards its £17.5m General Election campaign last year.

Capita employs more than 1,000 people across the North-East - the vast majority in Darlington at its Lingfield Point and Mowden Hall sites - where staff handle the Government's winter fuel payments and teachers' pensions.

Latest financial results for the service supplier revealed it increased turnover last year by 12 per cent to £1.44bn.

Property developer Sir David Garrard topped the list with a loan of £2.3m, followed by fashion tycoon Richard Caring and Science Minister Lord Sainsbury, who each loaned £2m.

Their names were released after Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer said legislation going through Parliament would be amended to require all future loans to be declared by political parties, in the same way as donations.

He said he was having talks with parties to see whether the law needed to be made to cover past dealings.

Labour said the Tories should follow their lead and declare at least those loans made for the last campaign.

* Half of voters think Tony Blair should step down as Prime Minister within a year, according to a poll. The survey, for BBC2's Newsnight, found that 29 per cent of those questioned said Mr Blair should go now, and a further 21 per cent that he should stay on no more than 12 months.