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Paying £15,000-a-table, just who are the donors funding the Tories’ election campaign? General election: Paying £15,000-a-table, just who are the donors funding the Tories’ election campaign?
(about 13 hours later)
The embossed invitations began dropping through the letter boxes of some of the richest men and women in Britain in October.The embossed invitations began dropping through the letter boxes of some of the richest men and women in Britain in October.
Bordered with the outlines of the red, white and blue Union Flag, the thick card requested the “pleasure” of their company at the Conservatives’ Black and White election fundraiser.Bordered with the outlines of the red, white and blue Union Flag, the thick card requested the “pleasure” of their company at the Conservatives’ Black and White election fundraiser.
But the accompanying literature made it clear that it was less the pleasure of their company the Tories were requesting – and more the pleasure of their wallets.But the accompanying literature made it clear that it was less the pleasure of their company the Tories were requesting – and more the pleasure of their wallets.
Tables of 10 at the event, which was held last night at the slightly faded but undeniably posh Grosvenor House hotel in Park Lane, cost up to £15,000 each, while the minimum price for a single ticket was £500. Tables of 10 at the event, which was held last night at the slightly faded but undeniably posh Grosvenor House hotel in Park Lane, cost up to £15,000 each, while the minimum price for a single ticket was £500. 
And the more you paid the more you got: a £15,000 table for 10 secured you the company of a cabinet minister, while for £10,000 you got a minister of state. Tables at the back of the Grosvenor’s Great Room went for £5,000, but those “cheap seats” had to make do with a mere backbench MP.And the more you paid the more you got: a £15,000 table for 10 secured you the company of a cabinet minister, while for £10,000 you got a minister of state. Tables at the back of the Grosvenor’s Great Room went for £5,000, but those “cheap seats” had to make do with a mere backbench MP.
Invitees, the invitation made clear, had to pay up-front to reserve their place – and there was even space to “top up” the table fee with an extra donation.Invitees, the invitation made clear, had to pay up-front to reserve their place – and there was even space to “top up” the table fee with an extra donation.
But, of course, that was only the start. Everything about the event was designed to fill the Conservatives’ coffers in the run-up to May’s ballot.But, of course, that was only the start. Everything about the event was designed to fill the Conservatives’ coffers in the run-up to May’s ballot.
A similar summer fundraising event last year featured auction prizes such as a game of tennis with David Cameron and Boris Johnson (sold to a Russian banker’s wife for £160,000) and an “Eight Gun Pheasant Shoot” (a prize donated by the wife of the Syrian-born businessman Wafic Said).A similar summer fundraising event last year featured auction prizes such as a game of tennis with David Cameron and Boris Johnson (sold to a Russian banker’s wife for £160,000) and an “Eight Gun Pheasant Shoot” (a prize donated by the wife of the Syrian-born businessman Wafic Said).
This year’s event is expected to have raised much more as the Conservatives’ wealthy donor base looks down the barrel of Labour’s mansion tax and new levies on the hedge-fund billionaires that David Cameron’s fundraisers have so assiduously courted over the past five years.This year’s event is expected to have raised much more as the Conservatives’ wealthy donor base looks down the barrel of Labour’s mansion tax and new levies on the hedge-fund billionaires that David Cameron’s fundraisers have so assiduously courted over the past five years.
It is a sign of exactly the kind of people that the Tories are targeting that the chairwoman of this year’s event organising committee was Zoë Law, wife of Andrew Law, one of the hedge fund industry’s most successful money managers. Mr Law is estimated to be worth £350m.It is a sign of exactly the kind of people that the Tories are targeting that the chairwoman of this year’s event organising committee was Zoë Law, wife of Andrew Law, one of the hedge fund industry’s most successful money managers. Mr Law is estimated to be worth £350m.
Michael Farmer is co-founder of Red Kite Capital (Rex)Michael Farmer is co-founder of Red Kite Capital (Rex)
Working alongside Mr Law on the organising committee was Andrée Shore, the wife of Howard Shore, who chairs the investment banking firm Shore Capital.  Mr Shore has donated £499,330 to the Tories and has been an outspoken critic of Labour’s plans for a 50p tax rate.Working alongside Mr Law on the organising committee was Andrée Shore, the wife of Howard Shore, who chairs the investment banking firm Shore Capital.  Mr Shore has donated £499,330 to the Tories and has been an outspoken critic of Labour’s plans for a 50p tax rate.
Overall, the 2015 organising committee has 63 members, of which at least 30 have donated to the Conservatives – totalling more than £3.3m since the last election.Overall, the 2015 organising committee has 63 members, of which at least 30 have donated to the Conservatives – totalling more than £3.3m since the last election.
Those at the ball had plenty of time to empty their wallets. Dinner was scheduled to go on for three-and-a-half hours with speeches by Mr Cameron and the Conservative chairman Lord Feldman.Those at the ball had plenty of time to empty their wallets. Dinner was scheduled to go on for three-and-a-half hours with speeches by Mr Cameron and the Conservative chairman Lord Feldman.
He is the man credited with building the Tories’ donor base to the extent that, for this election, the party is expected to almost double the amount it raised in 2010. In 2014 the party raked in £24.5m in large donations, compared with Labour’s £14.4m.He is the man credited with building the Tories’ donor base to the extent that, for this election, the party is expected to almost double the amount it raised in 2010. In 2014 the party raked in £24.5m in large donations, compared with Labour’s £14.4m.
But those attending last night’s event know all too well the risk to their own finances if the Tories’ election campaign is unsuccessful.But those attending last night’s event know all too well the risk to their own finances if the Tories’ election campaign is unsuccessful.
Lord Fink says there was never any possibility of him profiting from sponsoring the private dinnerLord Fink says there was never any possibility of him profiting from sponsoring the private dinner
Behind the scenes, Tory financiers are trying to raise enough money not just to fight this election – but also to establish a fighting fund in case a hung parliament results in Britain going to the polls for a second time in quick succession.Behind the scenes, Tory financiers are trying to raise enough money not just to fight this election – but also to establish a fighting fund in case a hung parliament results in Britain going to the polls for a second time in quick succession.
They also know that what the Tories have in financial firepower they lack in manpower.They also know that what the Tories have in financial firepower they lack in manpower.
Yesterday, as the rich and powerful were getting ready for their night out, William Hague was appealing for foot soldiers to take part in an “action day”, to make telephone calls to swing voters across the country.Yesterday, as the rich and powerful were getting ready for their night out, William Hague was appealing for foot soldiers to take part in an “action day”, to make telephone calls to swing voters across the country.
The last action day only attracted 150 participants. Perhaps they should have set up a phone bank at the Grosvenor House.The last action day only attracted 150 participants. Perhaps they should have set up a phone bank at the Grosvenor House.
Michael Farmer (RK Capital Management): £6,556,092Sir Michael Hintze (CQS): £3,221,027Lord Fink (ISAM): £3,172,007Chris Rokos (Brevan Howard): £1,344,850Andrew Law (Caxton Associates): £1,226,411Sir Paul Ruddock (Lansdowne Partners): £818,783David Harding (Winton Capital): £593,765Hugh Sloane (Sloane Robinson): £533,500Sir John and Peter Beckwith (RiverCrest Capital): £520,996Alexander Knaster (Pamplona Capital Management): £400,000Michael Farmer (RK Capital Management): £6,556,092Sir Michael Hintze (CQS): £3,221,027Lord Fink (ISAM): £3,172,007Chris Rokos (Brevan Howard): £1,344,850Andrew Law (Caxton Associates): £1,226,411Sir Paul Ruddock (Lansdowne Partners): £818,783David Harding (Winton Capital): £593,765Hugh Sloane (Sloane Robinson): £533,500Sir John and Peter Beckwith (RiverCrest Capital): £520,996Alexander Knaster (Pamplona Capital Management): £400,000
Source: Electoral Commission/Labour Research. Figures are total donations.Source: Electoral Commission/Labour Research. Figures are total donations.