Rowling Gives $1.8M to Beleaguered Labour Party

Admires Brown's efforts to fight child poverty

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 20, 2008 9:00 AM CDT

(Newser) – Beleaguered British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has at least one big fan: JK Rowling gave a whopping $1.8 million to the Labour party at its annual meeting today, the Guardian reports. The Harry Potter author, who is estimated to be worth a little over $1 billion, said she gave in light of Brown's record on tackling child poverty; Rowling was a struggling single mom when she wrote the first of her best-sellers.

“Gordon Brown has consistently prioritised and introduced measures that will save as many children as possible from a life lacking in opportunity," she said, adding that she was particularly irked by a Conservative party promise of "tax perks for the married," which overlook the needs of financially strapped single parents.

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This Monday, Dec. 10, 2007 file photo shows British writer J.K. Rowling, in London. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, FILE)

Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown reacts during his monthly press conference in Downing Street, London, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008. (AP Photo)

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The Conservatives still believe a childless, dual-income, but married couple is more deserving of a financial pat on the head than those struggling, as I once was, to keep their families afloat in difficult times. - JK Rowling

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Rowling Gives $1.8M to Beleaguered Labour Party