Tory lead grows as City donors swell coffers
THE Conservative Party has extended its opinion-poll lead over Labour as City donations continue to pour into the Tory coffers, a survey has shown.
Support for the Conservatives is up two points to 40 per cent while Labour is down one point to 24 per cent, according to a YouGov survey conducted for the People newspaper.
City grandees have hiked their financial support for the Tories recently after Labour introduced a tide of unpopular measures, including increasing the top income tax bracket to 50 per cent.
A £500,000 sum was raised at a Tory summer fundraiser at Old Billingsgate market two weeks ago, while more than £5.5m of donations have swelled the party’s finances so far this year. Former Man Group boss and current Conservative treasurer Stanley Fink has donated £1.08m, while co-treasurer and Icap boss Michael Spencer has given £33,000.
Landsdowne Partners founder Paul Ruddock, Strategic Real Estate Advisors founder Pierre Rolin and Corniche Partners founder Hani Farsi contributed £50,000 apiece. Ex-Morgan Stanley banker Jonathan Chenevix-Trench donated £25,000, as did Greenhill’s James Lupton.
TV Dragon Theo Paphitis and Sovereign Capital’s Ryan Robson both donated £10,000.