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How close are Andrea Leadsom's political links with Peter de Putron? How close are Andrea Leadsom's political links with Peter de Putron?
(about 2 hours later)
Following Andrea Leadsom’s rapid rise from little-known MP to star performer of the Leave campaign and potential prime minister, the spotlight has fallen on her most generous supporter, her brother-in-law Peter de Putron.Following Andrea Leadsom’s rapid rise from little-known MP to star performer of the Leave campaign and potential prime minister, the spotlight has fallen on her most generous supporter, her brother-in-law Peter de Putron.
A Guernsey-based financier who married Leadsom’s sister, Hayley Salmon, De Putron, 53, appears to have spent years supporting Leadsom’s careers in finance and politics.A Guernsey-based financier who married Leadsom’s sister, Hayley Salmon, De Putron, 53, appears to have spent years supporting Leadsom’s careers in finance and politics.
His backing spans donations to the Conservative party, contributions to thinktanks in which Leadsom has played a key role, giving directorships at De Putron companies to her and her husband, and links to charities where Leadsom was a trustee.His backing spans donations to the Conservative party, contributions to thinktanks in which Leadsom has played a key role, giving directorships at De Putron companies to her and her husband, and links to charities where Leadsom was a trustee.
Political donationsPolitical donations
De Putron has donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to Leadsom and the Conservative party, as well as causes with which she is affiliated. Some £200,000 of donations were made to the party’s central office in 2010, the year in which Leadsom became an MP. Since 2010, De Putron companies have continued to donate sums ranging from £6,500 to £20,900 to the party as well as to Leadsom specifically. The most recent contribution was a £9,000 donation to central office in November 2015.De Putron has donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to Leadsom and the Conservative party, as well as causes with which she is affiliated. Some £200,000 of donations were made to the party’s central office in 2010, the year in which Leadsom became an MP. Since 2010, De Putron companies have continued to donate sums ranging from £6,500 to £20,900 to the party as well as to Leadsom specifically. The most recent contribution was a £9,000 donation to central office in November 2015.
In 2014 De Putron also attended the Conservative Black and White Ball, a party fundraising event, according to a leaked seating plan. He was seated at the same table as the health secretary Jeremy Hunt, as well as Jersey’s treasury minister.In 2014 De Putron also attended the Conservative Black and White Ball, a party fundraising event, according to a leaked seating plan. He was seated at the same table as the health secretary Jeremy Hunt, as well as Jersey’s treasury minister.
ThinktanksThinktanks
Over the past three years De Putron has also contributed to Eurosceptic causes in which Leadsom has been involved. In 2013 she was a founding member of the Fresh Start Project, a campaign to reform the EU, as well as the all-party parliamentary group on European reform. Secretarial services for the group were provided by the think-tank Open Europe, to which another De Putron company, Gloucester Research, donated almost £700,000. The group was critical of attempts by the EU to impose tighter regulations on hedge funds, and in a policy paper accused Brussels of being biased against London’s financial industry. Over the past three years De Putron has also contributed to Eurosceptic causes in which Leadsom has been involved. In 2013 she was a founding member of the Fresh Start Project, a campaign to reform the EU, as well as the all-party parliamentary group on European reform. Secretarial services for the group were provided by the thinktank Open Europe, to which another De Putron company, Gloucester Research, donated almost £700,000. The group was critical of attempts by the EU to impose tighter regulations on hedge funds, and in a policy paper accused Brussels of being biased against London’s financial industry.
Leadsom family directorshipsLeadsom family directorships
At least two of Leadsom’s directorships have been with De Putron companies. Between 1997 and 1999 she was a director at De Putron Fund Management, where some controversy has arisen over her job title. Although her CV gives her the title of managing director, documents filed with Companies House reportedly describe her as a marketing director.At least two of Leadsom’s directorships have been with De Putron companies. Between 1997 and 1999 she was a director at De Putron Fund Management, where some controversy has arisen over her job title. Although her CV gives her the title of managing director, documents filed with Companies House reportedly describe her as a marketing director.
The second directorship was at the failed seafood company Seaperfect, which was bought by De Putron in the late 90s. She was a director of the company between 1998 and 1999, during which time she was paid around £4,000 as a non-executive director. The accounts also state that her wages were paid into an unnamed company in which she had an interest.The second directorship was at the failed seafood company Seaperfect, which was bought by De Putron in the late 90s. She was a director of the company between 1998 and 1999, during which time she was paid around £4,000 as a non-executive director. The accounts also state that her wages were paid into an unnamed company in which she had an interest.
Her husband, Ben Leadsom, has current or former directorships within De Putron’s network of companies. He once held directorships at Trenchant and GR Software & Research and is currently a director of Island Research LLP. Trenchant’s trading name is G-Research, where Ben Leadsom works as a director according to his Linkedin page. The company designs software and algorithms for hedge funds. Her husband, Ben Leadsom, has current or former directorships within De Putron’s network of companies. He once held directorships at Trenchant and GR Software & Research and is currently a director of Island Research LLP. Trenchant’s trading name is G-Research, where Ben Leadsom works as a director, according to his Linkedin page. The company designs software and algorithms for hedge funds.
CharitiesCharities
Charities affiliated with Andrea Leadsom also have close links with the De Putron family. In 2011, 2013 and 2014 the Northamptonshire Parent Infant Partnership, of which she was a trustee, received the majority of its funding from a Jersey health charity called the Ana Leaf Foundation. Hayley, Andrea’s sister and De Putron’s wife, is a trustee of the organisations.Charities affiliated with Andrea Leadsom also have close links with the De Putron family. In 2011, 2013 and 2014 the Northamptonshire Parent Infant Partnership, of which she was a trustee, received the majority of its funding from a Jersey health charity called the Ana Leaf Foundation. Hayley, Andrea’s sister and De Putron’s wife, is a trustee of the organisations.
Another charitable entity of which Leadsom was a trustee, the Oxford Parent-Infant Project, was also financed by the Ana Leaf Foundation, receiving £15,000 in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Leadsom subsequently stepped down as a trustee in 2013.Another charitable entity of which Leadsom was a trustee, the Oxford Parent-Infant Project, was also financed by the Ana Leaf Foundation, receiving £15,000 in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Leadsom subsequently stepped down as a trustee in 2013.