Political Influence

A recent enquiry has been thrown on the Conservative Party's close links with the hedge fund industry, as research showed that around half of the wealthiest fund managers in Britain have given money to the Tory party. 'The research into hedge fund managers' political donations, which was compiled by the Labour Party based on public disclosures, found that of the 59 wealthiest asset managers included on the most recent Sunday Times Rich List rankings 27 had made a combined £19m in donations to the Conservatives, with £10m flowing into Tory coffers since the 2010 general election alone.' (Independent, 4 February) So much for the notion that we have a democracy, when the very rich influence politics so powerfully. RD