Wednesday, October 19, 2011

UK: Cameron, Osbourne Took Gifts From Hedge Fund Chief


A millionaire hedge fund baron who bankrolled former Defence Secretary Liam Fox made a series of personal donations and gifts to a string of senior Cabinet Ministers, including the Prime Minister and Chancellor, it emerged last night.

Soldier turned banker Michael Hintze has given at least £1.2million to the Conservative Party and provided a further £2.5million in loans since 2005. Mr Hintze, 58, also gave more than £100,000 to the Atlantic Bridge charity set up by Dr Fox and run by his self-styled adviser Adam Werritty.

Now the Daily Mail can reveal how other senior Tories have received individual gifts and donations from the banker. Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne are among the top Tories who have benefited personally from the former Goldman Sachs banker.

Home Secretary Theresa May, Foreign Secretary William Hague and new Defence Secretary Philip Hammond also received gifts or donations from Mr Hintze or his company, CQS Management. Even London Mayor Boris Johnson and former Tory leadership candidate David Davis have been backed by the banker.

His generosity makes him one of the biggest Conservative Party donors behind Lord Ashcroft and has raised concerns about his influence.

Labour MP John Mann has asked the Electoral Commission to investigate. He said: ‘Michael Hintze is the new Godfather of Tory donations. ‘He is putting his money behind the key people in the party very deliberately. People never give money for nothing. They want something in return, they want influence.


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