A peer funding the Tories has again had his residence status questioned, after earlier pledges he would return to the UK and pay income tax.

Lord Ashcroft, who was named a peer seven years ago after then Tory leader Willliam Hague pledged Ashcroft would return to live in the UK and pay tax, today faced calls to explain his situation.

In 2004 Lord Ashcroft's main residence was declared in the House of Lords register as based in Belize, reported the Guardian today.

A spokesman for Lord Ashcroft countered, saying he did not have a main UK residence at the time and denied he had reneged on assurances given before receiving his peerage.

'He has given assurances, it's up to him to show he has kept them,' Lib Dem spokesman David Heath told the newspaper.

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