Friday 27 August 2010

Cameron dragged into cash for access controversy

David Cameron has been dragged into the Conservatives’ “cash for access” controversy with the disclosure that the party is offering meetings with the Prime Minister to supporters who pay £2,000. The Tory fund-raising operation is inviting financial backers to join Team 2000, a donors’ group whose members are promised “first-hand” insights into government policy from Mr Cameron. It has also emerged that the Liberal Democrats are offering meetings with their ministers to business leaders who make payments to the party.


The disclosure comes after The Daily Telegraph yesterday reported that the Tories are offering access to ministers to supporters who pay £1,000 to attend a dinner in October. According to the party website, people donating £2,000 a year qualify for Team 2000. The team is the “principal group of donors who support and market the Party’s policies in Government, by hearing them first-hand from the leader and key Conservative politicians through a lively programme of drinks receptions, dinner and discussion groups”. Because £2,000 is below the legal limit for declaring donations to parties, the names of members are not made public.

Team 2000 is one of several “patrons’ clubs” the Conservatives operate to raise money. At the top of the scale is the Leader’s Group, at £50,000 a year. Members are “invited to join David Cameron and other senior figures from the Conservative Party at dinners, post-PMQ lunches, [and] drinks receptions”. Some members have been invited to dinner at Mr Cameron’s home. A Tory spokesman said the patrons’ clubs were legitimate. “Under the current system, all political parties have to raise money in order to operate,” he said. “All donations are declared in accordance with Electoral Commission guidelines.” The Conservative clubs were set up in Opposition, but have continued now that the party is in power.

Like the Conservatives, the Lib Dems fought the general election promising to “clean up politics” by limiting the influence of party donors. Party documents show that the Lib Dems are also planning commercial events to reflect their new position. The party has organised a Corporate Day at their conference this autumn. Executives will be charged up to £1,545 to attend events that give them direct contact with Lib Dem ministers. Business leaders will pay £800 to attend a day of meetings and speeches from ministers, and another £495 for a pass to the conference. Another £250 is required to attend a Business Dinner with senior party figures. 

In a message to promote the Lib Dem events, Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, said: “Corporate Day brings together some of the most senior and influential business and political figures in the UK.” While the Conservatives have made clear their events are intended to raise money for the party, the Lib Dems said the money from executives will be treated as admission fees and not count as donations for legal purposes. A spokesman said: “There are no one-to-one meetings between delegates and ministers.”