Grant Shapps defends £250,000 donations to Tories saying supporting party is ...

Grant Shapps defends £250,000 donations to Tories saying supporting party is ...
Grant Shapps defends £250,000 donations to Tories saying supporting party is ...
Grant Shapps defends £250,000 donations to Tories from group of wealthy backers saying supporting the party is not an 'immoral act' amid cash-for access row He hit out amid cash for access row involving party and co-chairman Ben Elliot  Financial Times said group set up to connect supporters with top party figures Members donated up to £250,000, had meetings/calls with PM and Chancellor  Shapps: 'Supporting political party should not be painted as an immoral act'

11

View
comments

A Cabinet minister today defended large donations to the Tories from a group of wealthy supporters, saying supporting political parties should not be portrayed as an 'immoral act'.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps hit out amid a cash for access row involving the party and its co-chairman Ben Elliot. 

On Monday, the Financial Times reported a group known as the Advisory Board had been developed to connect Tory supporters with senior party figures.

The group, which made donations of up to £250,000, have had regular meetings and calls with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, it claimed.

Mr Shapps was asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme whether Advisory Board members are able to influence Government policy decisions.

The minister said: 'I have to say there are a lot of people in this country who believe in this country and want to see it prosper and may have views about the things that will make the country prosper.

'Supporting a political party should not, in my view, be painted as some sort of immoral act.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps hit out amid a cash for access row involving the party and its co-chairman Ben Elliot.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps hit out amid a cash for access row involving the party and its co-chairman Ben Elliot.

The Financial Times report had quoted Mohamed Amersi, a businessman and Tory donor, as saying the board is 'like the very elite Quintessentially clients membership: one needs to cough up £250,000 per annum or be a friend of Ben'.

The Financial Times report had quoted Mohamed Amersi, a

read more from dailymail.....

NEXT In news vacuum, rumours and concern swirl over Catherine mogaznewsen