Non-domiciled steel billionaire Swaraj Paul has pledged to finance the election campaign of Gordon Brown if the prime minister calls a snap election.

Lord Paul, who has said that although he is non-domiciled he still pays big sums to the Treasury, told Channel 4 in an interview that 'if there is an election, whatever I can pay I will pay. I am a believer in Gordon Brown'.

The pledge from Lord Paul could smooth the way for an autumn election, but the fact that he is a non-dom could be awkward for Brown.

The non-dom issue has heated up over the summer and Brown's chancellor, Alistair Darling, is in the process of conducting a sensitive and controversial review of the rules.

Further reading:

Non-doms are good for the UK

Non-doms bolster Treasury coffers by £3bn

MPs to hone in on non-doms