F1 chief Bernie Eccleston’s donation to Labour has landed the
Government in hot water
Francis Halewood
Former director of communications for the Conservative Party
’It stretches the bounds of incredulity to say that they are. The
Conservatives always got very worried when journalists started to dig
into funding. I just don’t believe that any businessman gives large sums
of money to any political party without looking for a favour. I don’t
necessarily say that’s a bad thing.’
Richard Currie The Policy Partnership
’Many political donations, especially those from the paid up members of
political parties, will be purely altrustic. From the non members who
donate, there will probably be broadly two different approaches
Firstly, one of broad based sympathy with the views of the political
party in question.
Secondly, the hope that the donation might be made in the form of a
favour and that one favour deserves another.’
Mike Lee
Westminster Strategy
’Donations are made as a way of expressing support for the policies and
principles of the party concerned. The suggestion that Bernie
Ecclestone’s donation to Labour influenced the decision on Formula One
is in my view absolute nonsense. It is the merits of the case that count
in this situation, not the size of the cheque. The suggestion that a
donation made brings influence is in my experience simply not true’
Tony Wright
Labour MP for Cannock Chase
’Thousands of people give donations for purely altruistic reasons all
the time because they believe in the policies and want to support them.
Is there a danger of rich people making donations for other than purely
altruistic reasons? Yes of course there is, which is why you need tight
rules. Company donations are more difficult. They cannot be seen as in
any way altruistic.’
Charles Lewington
Former director of communications for the Conservative Party
’The little old lady who gives pounds 5 to the Conservative Party in the
hope of keeping the socialists out believes she is acting for the common
good. A large corporation may give money to all three major parties in
order to further its business interests - and therefore those of its
employees.
To coin a phrase, one man’s act of altruism is another man’s bribe.’
