Secret Dinners for Cash Donations

Revealed: The £43m paid by elite group of donors for access to top Tories including David Cameron

Leader’s Group of major donors open only to those giving £50,000 a year
Secrecy surrounding the events will raise suspicions, opponents warn
Critic: Dining clubs is 'tip of the iceberg' in the world of secret influence

An elite Tory dining club that enjoys direct access to David Cameron in return for cash has given more than £43million to the party, it emerged last night.

The secretive Leader’s Group of major donors is open only to those prepared to give the Conservatives at least £50,000 a year.

In return, they are promised regular dinners, lunches and drinks reception with the Prime Minister and other senior Tory figures.

No list of members has ever been published and details of the topics discussed are never revealed.

But data released in the wake of the 2012 ‘Dinners for donors’ row reveals that 72 members of the group have taken the opportunity to dine privately with Mr Cameron and other senior ministers in the past 18 months.

Between them, they have given the party £43.4million since 2001. Some have attended at least six Leader’s Group events since 2012.

The decision to publish limited data follows controversy in 2012 when it emerged that Mr Cameron had hosted secret dinners for major donors at his Downing Street flat and at Chequers.

Ministers always denied that donors had used their access to influence policy but quarterly lists of donors who have attended events with the Prime Minister are now published.

Under fire: A critics said these events where David Cameron, pictured was present were 'straight up cash for access of the type that we¿ve got very used to in this country'

The disclosures will, however, raise concerns about the influence of behind-the-scenes lobbying and the ability of the rich to buy access to Mr Cameron.

Other ministers who have attended the events include Chancellor George Osborne, Foreign Secretary William Hague, Home Secretary Theresa May, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Defence Secretary Philip Hammond.

There is no evidence that the hedge fund bosses, property magnates, oil executives and others involved have ever asked for or received policy changes.

But critics warn that the secrecy surrounding the events will inevitably raise suspicions.

Tory sources insist that, in publishing the names of those attending functions with the Prime Minister, they are being more open than Labour.

Ed Miliband has failed to keep his pledge to publish regular lists of meetings with union barons and other major donors.

A Tory source said it was ‘malicious’ to suggest that members of the Leader’s Group enjoy undue influence. But Alexandra Runswick, director of campaign group Unlock Democracy, said the revelations would fuel public concern.

‘Whenever there is secrecy there is suspicion,’ she said. ‘It is very difficult for a member of the public to see a businessman spending £50,000 to meet David Cameron at a private dinner and not feel there is something going on that is not in their interests.’

The Leader’s Group was set up in 2003 and has grown to become a key part of Tory fundraising.

Membership is dominated by financiers. Those attending dinners in the past 18 months include a dozen hedge fund bosses and five bankers, including three former executives from failed banks Lehman Brothers and Barings.

The group also includes the wives of two controversial Middle Eastern businessmen not eligible to donate in their own right.

Tamasin Cave, of the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency, said the Leader’s Group was the ‘tip of the iceberg’ in the hidden world of secret influence: ‘It’s straight up cash for access of the type that we’ve got very used to in this country. A seat at these dinner parties provides these businessmen with a private space in which to discuss their concerns, whether its taxes, regulation or policy. They’re not just social occasions.

‘At the same time, the Government... is pretending to expose such lobbying with a sham register of lobbyists. People are fed up with a system that provides an open door to government for the wealthy and well connected, while everyone else is excluded.’

Labour MP Michael Dugher said: ‘It’s no wonder the Prime Minister stands up for the wrong people when he is selling access to a privileged few.’

But Labour was silent on why Mr Miliband has failed to publish details of his own meetings with major donors, including the trade union bosses who have bankrolled his leadership to the tune of more than £24million since 2010.

A Conservative Party spokesman insisted that the operation of the Leader’s Group was above board and all donations declared to the Electoral Commission.

The revelations follow controversy this week over the Government’s refusal to publish a full list of the people entertained by Mr Cameron at Chequers.

Tory sources said data showed that since 2012 no dinners had been held for donors at the PM’s official residences, including Chequers.

The Conservatives declined to say where Leader’s Group dinners are now held or what is discussed.

Members of the Leader’s Group include several figures who are no strangers to controversy.

Russian businessman Alexander Temerko, right, who is wanted on fraud charges in his own country, has attended two events and donated more than £200,000 to the Tories since 2012.

Mr Temerko, who runs wind farm firm Offshore Group Newcastle, insists the charges are politically motivated.

Last summer he paid £90,000 for a bust of Mr Cameron at a Tory fundraising event.

Although foreign nationals are normally barred from giving to British political parties, Mr Temerko’s donations have been cleared by the Electoral Commission.

The Leader’s Group also includes the wives of two controversial Middle Eastern businessmen.

May Makhzoumi, pictured below with her husband, who has given more than £1million since 2010, is married to former Lebanese arms dealer Fouad Makhzoumi, who was at the centre of the scandal that brought down former Tory Cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken.

Rosemary Said, who has given the party almost £580,000, is married to Syrian-born businessman Wafic Said who made a fortune as a fixer to the Saudi Royal Family, including the controversial Al Yamamah arms deal with the UK.

Scottish property tycoon Malcolm Scott, who has given almost £850,000, attended a dinner with Mr Cameron in the spring of 2012 while his business empire was collapsing. It has since gone under, leaving debts of millions.

Venture capitalist Adrian Beecroft, right, attracted controversy in 2012 after writing a report for Mr Cameron on cutting red tape, which included a proposal to allow employers to fire staff at will.

Mr Beecroft has given more than £750,000 but his key recommendation was rejected by the Government because of opposition from the Liberal Democrats.

Others the list include the celebrity hairdresser John Frieda, who has given the party more than £260,000, musician Michael Batt, who has donated more than £160,000, and Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross, who has donated more than £220,000.

The Leader’s Group also contains some of Britain’s wealthiest individuals.

Richest is the industrialist Sir Anthony Bamford, whose family is worth an estimated £3.1 billion and who has given more than £2.5million.

Others include the hedge fund boss Michael Hintze and pharmaceuticals magnate Lord Ballyedmond.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2544318/Revealed-The-43m-paid-elite-group-donors-access-Tories-including-David-Cameron.html#ixzz2rDR98iKy
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Of course, being the Mail, they tried to slip in Union influence, conveniently forgetting the reforms being made:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10576933/Ed-Miliband-attempts-to-limit-union-influence-on-Labour-leader-elections.html


No wonder they are fighting the EU to keep Banker's bonuses.

Hmmmm! This from a supporter of Labour who received £1 million per annum from he Chairman of the Coop Bank annually who was as bent as a nine bob note in every sense.

This from a supporter of the former leaders who made millions Blair has as much money as Beckham. His wife received money courtesy of the taxpayer.

Oh what about the millions from bent trade unionist I could go on and on.

This from the person who defends benefit fraud.

F--king hypocrite and two faced witch.

Supporters of all parties have visited the PM a Chequers I has been going on for decades.

Yet again you can't read.  I have never, ever, supported Blair, he is slimy bastard who made me feel quite sick when I spent time with him.   Labour received money from the Co-op, not the Co-op bank, because the Co-op is a supporter of the Labour Party.  

These are not people VISITING the PM, these are people PAYING to have lunch with him to lobby him.   The trade unions started the Labour Party and have every right to donate to it.  And I have never defended benefit fraud, I have defended the people who need help who you would rather see living on the street.

The green bile and stench of greed and avarice that pours from the squirming maggots of what you call a brain every time you start to type reminds me of why I despise people who have the empathy of a raddled rat and the humanity of a cockroach and who think themselves better than everyone else, particularly when they are living off their wife and haven't worked in years.

Dinner with Sam and Cam in No.10. £250k last time I heard. Sure it's on Youtube as well.

Yep, much more money in it than donations from trade unions lol

The Coop Chairman was promoted by Labour to this post. He was (is) a complete shambles as Chairman and a druggy pervert to boot.

He had no qualifications of ay sort suitable for this post.

Guess what? now he has gone the donations are stopping.

As to the TU donations I'll give credit to Milliband he is trying to make the afflilation fee an opt in. I commend him for that and given it has pissed of Labour internal people and the unions alike I give him the benefit of the doubt.

That said if he had not he would have been a hostage to fortune in the press or just simply a Trade union stooge.

Camerons dining with donors at Chequers is not a big deal. t is a grace and favour home that is his to use at weekends or in his free time.

I'd rather donors from Industry than from Communist as happened years ago when TU leaders and MPs took money from KGB.

Now that was corruption and treason.

Of course despite it being known about for years you will no doubt deny t Sassy.

Clarkson wrote:The Coop Chairman was promoted by Labour to this post. He was (is) a complete shambles as Chairman and a druggy pervert to boot.

He had no qualifications of ay sort suitable for this post.

Guess what? now he has gone the donations are stopping.

As to the TU donations I'll give credit to Milliband he is trying to make the afflilation fee an opt in. I commend him for that and given it has pissed of Labour internal people and the unions alike I give him the benefit of the doubt.

That said if he had not he would have been a hostage to fortune in the press or just simply a Trade union stooge.

Camerons dining with donors at Chequers is not a big deal. t is a grace and favour home that is his to use at weekends or in his free time.

I'd rather donors from Industry than from Communist as happened years ago when TU leaders and MPs took money from KGB.

Now that was corruption and treason.

Of course despite it being known about for years you will no doubt deny t Sassy.

Flowers was appointed by the Board of Northern Rock.

Sam and Cams dinners were in No.10 and according to reports the top going rate was £250k a kick.

EXCLUSIVE Disgraced Co-op Bank chair Paul Flowers hosted reception at Tory conference
DISGRACED Co-op Bank chairman Paul Flowers hosted an evening reception “with refreshments” for Tory activists at the party’s annual conference last year, Express Online can reveal.

The suspended Methodist minister, who is facing allegations of illegal drug taking, held an invitation only event at the four star Hyatt Regency hotel in Birmingham on Sunday, October 7 last year.

He was representing the Co-Operative Group for “A Celebration of Co-operation” reception at the same hotel in which David Cameron and the Tory high command were staying.

The event, marked “invitation only”, was advertised in the Tories’ conference brochure as: “To mark the UN International Year of Co-operatives…Paul Flowers hosts a reception."

Tory councillors attended, as did the Federation of Small Businesses, which tweeted at the time the Co-op were their “banking supporters”.

The Tories' hypocrisy knows no bounds.

Labour party source

After such evening events at party conferences, delegates usually move on to the hotel bar.

It is not known whether any senior Tory MPs were at the function or whether the Rev Flowers stayed on to socialise with activists for the bar’s night-time entertainment.

However, a senior Labour source said the revelations demonstrated Conservative “hypocrisy” over the Flowers affair – and also backed their claims a “smear campaign” was being waged.

co-op bank, co-op group, daily express, paul flowers, ed miliband, methodist ministers, david cameron [CONSERVATIVE PARTY BROCHURE]

The source said: “The Tories' hypocrisy knows no bounds.

“While they are happily flinging mud all around, they were happy for Paul Flowers to host a reception at their own party conference last year."

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/444340/Disgraced-Co-op-Bank-chair-Paul-Flowers-hosted-reception-at-Tory-party-conference

Watch this Drinky

He'll avoid it like the plague lol