Party told it can't keep £8.2m donation
Shortly after Cameron became leader the Party heard that Belgrade-born businessman Branislav Kostic had left his entire estate to it in a will drawn up in the Thatcher years. The money is said to have been invested in a trust and could be worth over £10m now.
Kostic made his money in Britain trading in pharmaceuticals and precious metals. He was known to be an avid supporter of Thatcher but became paranoid about an international conspiracy of sexually perverted pharmaceutical company executives. This is one of the things he said to her when in power:
"I am sending a cheque for £5,000 to fight the evil and wicked demons and satans and I am fully at your disposal."
This morning the High Court decided that the donation should be recalled and given to his family on the grounds that he wasn't of sound mind. The Party now has to decide whether to appeal. There's an awful lot at stake but it will have to be careful to not be perceived as seeking to exploit a vulnerable man.
Deputy Editor
I hope that this legacy was set aside while question marks remained. Otherwise I will worry about the business acumen of those responsible.
Posted by: Mark Fulford | October 15, 2007 at 10:51
So the Party stays a wholly owned subsidiary of Ashcroft plc. How democratic.
Posted by: MHDH | October 15, 2007 at 10:56
I think we can guess what line will be taken by Have I Got News For You this week: court decides man who left money to the Tories was clearly mad.
I hope we don't appeal this. It was right to let it go to court but now the card to play is the graceful exit: wishes of the deceased had to be respected; court has now given its judgment on what those wishes were; happy to let the money go to his family; if Osborne were at the Treasury more families would be able to enjoy inheritances etc etc.
Posted by: William Norton | October 15, 2007 at 11:02
According to the BBC, Mark, the "Conservatives say they have not touched the money"....
Posted by: Comstock | October 15, 2007 at 11:05
The party could lose more than even this very large sum, in donations and good will for years to come unless it accepts the court's judgement and moves on.
Posted by: HF | October 15, 2007 at 11:10
"court decides man who left money to the Tories was clearly mad"
Indeed, William, he is reputed to have said "Margaret Thatcher was the greatest leader of the free world in history". If that isn't evidence of insanity, I struggle to think of what is :D ;)
Posted by: Comstock | October 15, 2007 at 11:16
Just because Kostic alerted us to sexually perverted pharmaceutical executives trying to take over the world doesn't mean they aren't :)
To the bedrooms!
Posted by: Henry Mayhew - Fruitcake | October 15, 2007 at 11:17
"Satanic monsters and freaks"
Who on earth did he have in mind - Michael Foot?
Posted by: Curly | October 15, 2007 at 11:27
It would be nice to think that his familly would still make something of a donation in respect of his wishes, however mad.
Sadly we don't live in a world where things like this happen...
Posted by: Bexie | October 15, 2007 at 11:47
Bexie,put the begging bowl away,pleeease!
Posted by: R.Baker. | October 15, 2007 at 11:57
What about the £2.4 million the LibDems are retaining despite it coming from a non trading UK registered company whose major shareholder and director is/was non resident and is now serving a long sentence for fraud in the states?
They are not mad to keep it just desparate.
Posted by: michael mcgough | October 15, 2007 at 13:55
Comstock, the clearest evidence of insanity is when someone claims that Gordon Brown was a prudent and effective Chancellor and will make a good Prime Minister.
Posted by: Moral minority | October 15, 2007 at 14:32
Henry's comment made me laugh out loud, thank you. PS I work in the pharmaceutical industry.
Posted by: Graeme Archer | October 15, 2007 at 15:20
I agree with the Court judgement.
Freaks and forces of darkness is a good description of Labour and it is certainly sane to leave ones fortune to the Conservative Party- in this case however, the man was probably not well.
Posted by: eugene | October 15, 2007 at 17:31
wishes of the deceased had to be respected; court has now given its judgment on what those wishes were
His wishes were his wishes whenever stated, the court though believed that his wishes had by the 1980s become distorted due to what they believed was paranoia, although given that he was not apparently assessed psychiatrically then I don't see how the courts could be in such a position to take such a decision.
Posted by: Yet Another Anon | October 16, 2007 at 11:06
I don't see how the courts could be in such a position to take such a decision.
Posted by: Yet Another Anon | October 16, 2007
The courts listened to all the evidence, not just the greedy lawyers for the conservative party.
Shame on those for trying to deprive this man of his rightful inheritance.
You all squealed hard enough to have an inheritance tax for yourselves but would be perfectly happy to deny another man his birthright if it was going to promote your greed and avarice.
How typical Conservative.
Long live the nasty party.
Posted by: jonboy | October 16, 2007 at 18:31