The Conservatives and big donors

Iain Dale has had a bit of a go at Stuart Wheeler today, accusing him of being an attention-seeker for reportedly (and let's see the truth of it) threatening to vote UKIP in next June's European elections if the Tories don't beef up their Euroscepticism.  A few observations:

• If Mr Wheeler is threatening to support UKIP that's very disappointing but we should never forget Mr Wheeler's generosity to the party in the past.  His £5m gift in 2001 was manna for the party at the time.  A few people like Mr Wheeler, Lord Ashcroft and John Paul Getty kept the party going in very difficult times.  In the long-term it might have been better for the party if it had been then forced to go to small retail donors but that's another question.
• It's wrong to simply dismiss Stuart Wheeler as an attention-seeker.  He has ruled out a personal reward for his donations to the party (eg a peerage) unlike most.  His beliefs in Euroscepticism - manifested in his recent (unsuccessful) legal action - and opposition to waterboarding and other aggressive interrogation techniques appear to stem from high principle.
• Big donors have been too influential at times - ConHome has worried, in the past, about the influence of Lord Ashcroft and Mr Wheeler - but times are changing.  The party's funding base is now a lot more diverse with many more businesses giving to the party.  120 donors are apparently giving £50,000pa. At 52% in the polls David Cameron is not so vulnerable to an unhappy big donor walking away.  That's healthy.
• What isn't so healthy is if the huge opinion poll leads discourage the party from the serious policy innovation that Britain's problems need.  That's why it would be good to see more traditional Tory donors diverting a good portion of their generosity to conservative movement organisations.  Mr Wheeler has a good record of doing just this.  Too many big, centre right donors give nearly all their money to the Tory Party.  It's vital that more give to groups like the Centre for Social Justice, Ben Rogers' Human Rights group and The Freedom Association.  These groups provide the ideas and nurture the talent for the long-term success of the conservative cause.

Comments

[David Belchamber]

The conservatives cannot go into an election without having a policy on the EU. Stuart Wheeler's two points are worthy of proper discussion without regard to whether or not the party gets a further donation from him.
I happen to agree with his stance.

[RichardJ]

The problem comes when people believe that their personal hobby horse should dominate the Party's strategy and policies.

[David]

I think he is bright enough to know that Cameron intends to continue the sell-out to EU power regardless of any weasel words yet to be cobbled together.

[christina Speight]

Stuart Wheeler has done more for the Tory Party than prospective candidate and all-round ‘big-head’ Dale has ever or could ever do. Remember his high court case this year?

Of course not voting Tory in the Euro-elections will immediately double the number of UKIP MEPs, not “the election of more Europhile MPs”

I - and I think Wheeler - want to vote Tory in the euro elections but if Cameron doesn’t get out of his ivory tower soon , I’ll vote UKIP (while holding my nose)

Cameron's silence on all essential matters is becoming a public scandal

[Sally Roberts]

RichardJ you have hit upon the exact problem! As Milton Friedman so famously said "There is no such thing as a free lunch" and donors pull strings...there is no getting away from it. True also that many if not most large donors are attention seekers. Big egos and big business invariably go together! The trick is to do some skilful negotiating so both sides are reasonably happy and the money continues to flow.

[Pot and kettle]

Very funny that Iain Dale should attack someone else as an attention seeker!

The man has no self-awareness.

[David_at_Home]

I think, my Tory friends, you should take Stuart Wheeler seriously. He is speaking tonight at UCL and sharing a platform Lord Pearson, a UKIP member of the House of Lords.

http://stuartwheeler.co.uk/

If you live in London why no go along and see what he has to say? (You, in particular, Sally Roberts!)

[Sammy Finn]

Wheeler is a decent man.

We shouldn't be attacking him.

[Shaun Bennett]

Where's JohnW on this story? Yesterday when I said that I was considering voting UKIP I was told 'goodbye, you won't be miised'. Perhaps John W will appear later to tell Mr Wheeler that he won't be missed either. The Conservative Party doesn't need activists, it doesn't need camapigners, it doesn't need big donors. We're at 52% in the polls, and that was no thanks to mere activists or donors like Mr Wheeler-who kept the party going through the difficult years when it was not fasionable to say that you're going to vote Conservative.

I'm sorry, but if the party leadership listens too much the arrogance of people like JohnW then they may find that the party will be out of power for a very long time yet.

Of course individuals shouldn't be able to hold the party to ransom. But they also have a right to withhold their labour, or their cash if they feel that they need to do so. It only becomes a problem for the party if their views are in chime with many, many others. In this case, the views of Mr Wheeler clearly are. I hope that the leadership will listen and choose boldness over blandness on our European policy.

[Antony]

Can't see the problem. He has always been honest about his views but still wants a Conservative Government and has been prepared to put his hand in his pocket to help bring one about.

The fact that he may vote UKIP in the Euro-elections, - so will a lot of our members who want a Conservative Govt but are totally pissed off with Cameron (and even more with our so-called Conservative MEPs) not standing up to the federalist bully boys in Brussels who want to sell Britain down the drain and destroy our National identity. I still welcome these members as co-workers in the task of defeating the Socialists.

The situation hasn't been helped by the totally un-democratic way in which our MEPs were toplisted for the election and we were told that a woman candidate would come top of the poll for the next place. - Vote how we want or we will 'fix it'. Mugabe style democracy if ever I saw it.

Apart from Cameron and the MEPs the board and CCHQ have a lot to answer for if our members and supporters feel unenthused about the Euro-elections, - and in many cases resort to voting UKIP.

[Malcolm Dunn]

I have met Stuart Wheeler and like him enormously.I also happen to agree with him on the EU. I think he's making a mistake by publically announcing this. He could have had a private word with Cameron.
Advocating voting for UKIP is just silly. They are the most busted of busted flushes. How much more evidence does anyone need?

[Edward Huxley]

I`m not aware that Stuart Wheeler has actually said anything yet, so this might be a rumour; however,if it makes David Cameron abandon "we will not leave it there" then I for one say "hooray, at last".

Ukip has only one wealthy donor and would certainly welcome Mr. Wheeler`s support. However, he is free to use his money in whatever way he chooses. A man of integrity who is not seeking any personal reward. Pity there aren`t more like him

[Suspicious]

Tim: Are you defending Stuart Wheeler because he gives YOU money?

[Tim Montgomerie]

No, Suspicious. I don't receive funding from Stuart Wheeler.

[Jake]

The Conservative party must never forget that its poll lead is mainly due to well nigh universal loathing of Labour rather than any affection for the Conservatives other than within its normal polling base.
They cannot afford to be disdainful of any of their support no matter its origins. That poll lead could disappear in a trice if circumstances were to change.

They might care to reflect that championing an referendum in England on an English parliament would be a massively popular act in the one country of the UK where it counts to them ie England.

As it is, the Conservative leadership,with its existing policy of English Votes on English matters in the British parliament, appears to be implicitly accepting the end of the United Kingdom.

More clarity from Dave on this matter would be appreciated.

[Justin Hinchcliffe]

If I give the Party £10m, would the leadership be more supportive the EU? Then Wheeler could give £15m for them to be anti again and so on. Where would it all lead and when would it stop?

[Sally Roberts]

Justin if you've got £10m you can give me some! ;-)

[Sally Roberts]

"If you live in London why no go along and see what he has to say? (You, in particular, Sally Roberts!)"

Thanks for the advice David - I can't tonight but am perfectly happy to hear what he has to say on another occasion.

[Richard Calhoun]

It is surprising that Stuart Wheeler finds it necessary to make his feelings public, it indicates that he is not getting the hearing that he should from Cameron.

I don't like threats but he has a very valid point and Cameron must give some solid pledges as to his intentions over the Lisbon Treaty et al.

[C List and Proud]

Justin doesn't have 10p

[Nigel LeFart]

I am sure that there are a lot of people in the party who are very grateful to Mr. Wheeler for the money that he earned from gambling - yes he really is a man of high morals ha ha!!!!. Personally I am not interested in the opinion of this man who made money from other peoples misery even if intends to vote monster raving looney - which is pretty much the same as those bunch of tw**s who call themselves UKIP. Thank goodness we are no longer dependent on this silly opinionated man.

[Freeborn John]

Justin Hinchcliffe: This is about money and not votes. The Tories will gain more votes than they will lose with a policy to renegotiate powers back from Brussels. Most voters don’t care. Of those that do, those like me that want the EU to have less power over our lives vastly outnumber those like you and Sally Roberts that want it to have more power.

[Freeborn John]

Justin Hinchcliffe: This is about votes and not money. The Tories will gain more votes than they will lose with a policy to renegotiate powers back from Brussels. Most voters don’t care. Of those that do, those like me that want the EU to have less power over our lives vastly outnumber those like you and Sally Roberts that want it to have more power.

[Nigel LeFart]

Sorry freeborn, but you are wrong.Other than obsessives at the extremities of both ends of the Euro argument, most voters do not give a fig (or you may prefer a victoria plum) for arguments opver Europe. When we kept going on about Europe it just reminded the average voter that the Tories were obsessed by things that didn't matter to them. Most people are slightly eurosceptic, but definately not in favour of withdrawl. get over it! I am sure there are some nutters who think that UKIP is not a wasted vote, but they forget every time they vote for Nige and his scarry eyed loonies they please Gordon

[passing leftie]

Posted by: Malcolm Dunn | September 18, 2008 at 17:06
I have met Stuart Wheeler and like him enormously.I also happen to agree with him on the EU. I think he's making a mistake by publically announcing this. He could have had a private word with Cameron.

I agree. A private word from a wealthy donor is much more the Tory way of setting policy.

[will.b]

I will be voting UKIP in the European elections, Conservative in every other election, as I have done in the past. The Conservative MEP's in my region don't have Conservative views, have done nothing to stand up for Britain and have gone native.

I might have been prepared to hold my nose and vote Conservative, but the selection process killed off any chance of that happening.

[Freeborn John]

Nigel: You are ~20 years out of date. Support for the EU project within Conservative ranks has been reduced to a rump and cannot lead to splits. As the trend to EU-scpeticism has advanced throughout Europe it is the other parties that would be split. Even Charles Kennedy this week was having shore up the pro-EU position at the LibDem conference.

[David_at_Home]

" A private word from a wealthy donor is much more the Tory way of setting policy."

Passing Leftie!!!!!!!

Where have you been for the last 11 years?

[Evan Price]

Forgive me, but what is to be achieved by voting UKIP next year? You won't get us out of the EU - on past form you won't get terribly good representation in the EU Parliament. All you will achieve is to give succour to the parties that favour more integration and who have reneged on manifesto pledges to hold a referendum.

The Conservative position in relation to the Lisbon Treaty is pretty clear - if it has not been ratified, a referendum will be held. The problem if it has come into force in legal terms is that the referendum will be of no effect - as you cannot withdraw ratification once a treaty is in force.

In relation to the EU, the Conservative position is that no further powers will be transferred to the institutions (no more 'ever-closer' Union in which the UK participates) and there will be a renegotiation of the existing powers in certain areas - and that is the position we have adopted whether or not the Lisbon Treaty comes into force.

This is a perfectly sensible political approach and it reflects the position of most of the people that I meet when wandering around Wales talking about the EU.

I am utterly opposed to ever-closer Union - I am utterly opposed to the Lisbon Treaty - I appeared for Mr Wheeler before Lord Justice Dyson in the Court of Appeal.

[Mark Hudson]

Whilst I am now happily and firmly in the UKIP camp, I think that the disproportionate influence of any individual on a Party - based upon their financial contribution - is very unhealthy.

I happen very much to agree with Wheeler: Cameron lied big time over his EPP Leadership Election pledge; he oversaw an absolutely appaling stitch-up over candidate re-selection and the work done against Daniel Hannan is something to behold. Put simply, the Conservatives are perpetuating the ludicrous Hague line: In Europe, Not Run By Europe. That's impossible.

The fact is a lot of Conservatives will vote UKIP next year. When I was Chairman of Sevenoaks, 4 of my 6 Management Team voted UKIP (including me). However, the influence of one wealthy individual, however well-intentioned, should be minimised.

[Andrew Smith]

The fact is that many Conservative Party supporters have made postings against the proposition that Cameron should make the policy commitments suggested by Wheeler. Presumably that indicates these activists are happy with membership of the EPP and yet another variant of "in but not run by".

It won't wash and on current indications UKIP will take a lot of votes from each of the 3 Europhile old parties in June next year.

[Malcolm Dunn]

Passing Leftie, your last post made me laugh. Stuart Wheeler has given millions to the party but it has as even you can see not bought him the policies he wants.
For years you supported a man who not only sold peerages for cash, who not only awarded donors huge government contracts but who made particularly large donors ministers.
I should reflect on that if I were you.

[Malcolm Dunn]

As even you you can see Passing Leftie, Stuart Wheeler's millions have bought no influence on policy.
Compare this with the man you supported for years who sold peerages for cash, who ensured donors won large government contracts and who even made at least two large donors ministers. The days the Consrervative Party copuld teach Labour anything about corruption ae long gone.

[Victor, NW Kent]

I do not agree with the existence of the EU Parliament. Consequently I do not vote at all in EU elections. At all others I vote solidly Conservative.

Stuart Wheeler is a decent and principled man. He is entitled to make his feelings plain whether it upsets Iain Dale, David Cameron, Ken Clarke, Dennis McShane, the LibDems or not.

We understand that the EU has been bigged up by past Tory leaders to much scorn as an election issue. Cameron and his team have said that if the treaty is not in force when we come to power that the instrument of ratification will be withdrawn and there will be a referendum. We are in the hands of the Irish, Poles and Czechs as far as that is concerned.

The matter of renegotiating if it has already been brought into force is a much more complex issue. It must be established exactly what practical action could be taken. Withholding payments to the EU would, of course, produce an immediate result [of some sort] but I see little to be gained by direct confrontation at this time. If Mr Wheeler wants to air his views then good luck to him.

[David Parker]

How sad. This has turned out to be one of the less constructive topics and more of a personal slanging match on what could have been an interesting blog.
I was fortunate enough to be one of the beneficiaries of Jimmy Goldsmith's campaign, as a Referendum Party candidate in 1997, we knew that we were fighting against all the odds, but it was still well worth doing and, even now, may still bear some fruit in keeping the EU discussion alive.

I don't know whether Stuart Wheeler really expected to win his legal challenge, but he was one of the very few people intelligent enough to know that, win or lose, this was one of the only ways, with the brain dead and bigoted BBC and most media hacks, in which to raise public awareness of the importance of the EU issue.

It is not a question of Tory loyalty, which he has more than amply demonstrated, but of sheer frustration at the lack of political competence and integrity which, I suspect, makes him, and many more of us, threaten, or positively intend, to cast a protest vote for UKIP at the next Euro elections.

Just look at the present financial crisis, with the chancellor saying that financial stability is more important than competition and that the Government will "Legislate" to facilitate the proposed Lloyds/HBOS deal. It is no longer even within his control to do this,without first obtaining permission from the EU, but has he or Brown even bothered to mention this?

I only hope that Stuart Wheeler will not give up in disgust, for now we need him more than ever.

[Yet Another Anon]

Put simply, the Conservatives are perpetuating the ludicrous Hague line: In Europe, Not Run By Europe.
Rather further back than William Hague, I remember cabinet ministers in the 1980s and 1990s chanting it like a mantra as if it was actually making any difference as measure after measure from Brussels sailed through.

If David Davis (for all his faults) or Liam Fox had won I imagine that the Conservative Party would have left the EPP by the end of 2005, and Liam Fox has been quite open that his position is that the Conservatives may have to consider withdrawing from the EU, which is the closest a Conservative leader has ever come to advocating withdrawal.

[Iain Dale]

My point was that he hasn't donated any money since 2003 yet continues to describe himself as a donor.

To urge people to vote for another party at an election used to be grounds for being thrown out of the party.

His comments were issued in a lobby press release from Luther Pendragon, issued on his behalf.

[Simon Richards]

I was deeply dismayed and disappointed both by the tone and the content of Iain's attack on Stuart Wheeler. As Tim rightly points out, Stuart deserves better than this. I can honestly say that I have never come across a more decent and honourable man than Stuart. Of course, Iain has every right to question Stuart's views, but I think the personal nature of his comments was not only below the belt but way below the high standard one expects from Iain. Both Iain and Stuart will be speaking in The Freedom Zone, on the Conservative Party Conference Fringe. May I suggest that this might be a good opportunity for Iain quietly to apologise to Stuart?

[Roger Helmer]

I am proud to count Stuart Wheeler as a friend, and delighted that I was able to support his recent legal action in a small way. After all he has done for the Party, it would be rank ingratitude for any Conservative to attack him.

[Sally Roberts]

"To urge people to vote for another party at an election used to be grounds for being thrown out of the party."

Iain I believe it still is, though I haven't checked the Rules - has anyone done so?

Roger Helmer, what do you think of your friend inciting rebellion in the ranks?

[Nigel leFart]

Those of you that are considering voting for those simplistic UKIP losers, ask yourself this....why has UKIP got anyone taking the vast expense accounts dished out by the European Parliament? If they are genuine then they would put up candidates and then refuse to take their seats. By taking their seats (and the vast expenses) they have less credability than Sinn Fein/IRA. If you are genuinely idealistically opposed to the EU ( a perfectly arguable position)then either don't vote or spoil your ballot paper, but please don't waste your vote on these D-grade Tory rejects

[David_at_Home]

Nigel leFart,

"…If they are genuine then they would put up candidates and then refuse to take their seats."

It is fundamental to democracy that people use the democratic process to change things for the better. The alternative is bloodshed and violence, the policy of SF/IRA, an organisation of which you seem to approve.

“….please don't waste your vote on these D-grade Tory rejects”

Unlike the Tories, “those D Grade Tory Rejects” actually do have a set of wide ranging policies to address Britain’s problems:

http://www.ukip.org/content/ukip-policies/726-ukip-policies-in-brief

In fact, many of UKIP’s members come from all three main parties and many, particularly the rapidly growing Young Independents, never previously belonged to any party.

Why are those in favour of the EU so quick to take refuge in rudeness and inaccuracy? Have you really no better arguments? I believe we should leave the EU but I could make a good logical case for staying in, if I were so minded.

[passing leftie]

Posted by: Malcolm Dunn | September 18, 2008 at 17:06
I have met Stuart Wheeler and like him enormously.I also happen to agree with him on the EU. I think he's making a mistake by publically announcing this. He could have had a private word with Cameron.

Well, I've reflected, Malcolm.

Regardless of whether you think Labour or the Tories have done this in the past, do you think a big donor "having a quiet word" is a good way to determine policy or not? I think it isn't.

[Edward Huxley]

Nigel leFart (apt name) obviously does not know that when Sked was Ukip leader the policy was not to take up seats if elected, and it failed.

Ukip Meps in Brussels have been able to inform us all about many of the EU`s follies which would probably have gone unreported.

Like his leader, Nigel has resorted to cheap smears about Ukip members and supporters; these don`t do the Tories any good. Mr.Cameron with his education should know better.

I still have many Tory friends. They respect my views and I respect theirs. We don`t exchange insults.

Perhaps Nigel would express himself differently if he stopped hiding behind a nom de plume.

[Malcolm Dunn]

That's the point Passing Leftie,having a word doesn't DETERMINE policy in the Conservative Party. In the party you support it has.

[Ken Stevens]

Evan Price

"Forgive me, but what is to be achieved by voting UKIP next year?

Casting a vote for it in EU elections, whatever one's usual preference in national elections, is the nearest we are going to get to a guaranteed means of expressing views.

"UKIP", busted flush or not, is simply a box to be ticked on the ballot for this purpose and this would send a strong message to the three main parties that they need to tailor their policies more clearly to reflect the mood. I'm not suggesting that a massive vote for UKIP thereby demonstrates that everyone wanted actually to leave EU, as opposed to a proportion thereof wanting a more robust approach generally to retention of real parliamentary supremacy.

"In relation to the EU, the Conservative position is that no further powers will be transferred to the institutions ...and there will be a renegotiation of the existing powers in certain areas"

We need a somewhat more specific statement of intent before the next General Election! What powers? Which areas? The impression given so far is a rather woolly "we wouldn't let matters rest there"
.. Ooooh, bold ;-)
If there is already a more specific message then it needs to be over clearly.

Nigel leFart
"If they are genuine then they would put up candidates and then refuse to take their seats."

The analogy is more with SNP. It wants independence from UK parliament yet works within it for interim good governance and towards the end objective.

"..then either don't vote.."
In which case the major parties will presume a languid disinterest in the topic.

"..or spoil your ballot paper.."
Slightly better than previous option but could only be effective if this were a mass action, with ballot papers endorsed with a suitable message - a difficult scheme to co-ordinate. 50 spoiled papers in a constituency regarded as oafs in error. 5000 becomes meaningful as a message.

[Evan Price]

"We need a somewhat more specific statement of intent before the next General Election! What powers? Which areas?"

No further powers means what it says.

As to areas for renegotiation, it has been said by the Party that these relate to areas of social policy and employment policy.

So, for example, the social chapter and charter of fundamental rights are two areas where I would want us to 'opt out'. I do not believe that these are necessary for the good working of the single market. I believe that these are used as a means to assert power where power is not necessary to achieve even the stated aims of the policy and where it represents an unncessary burden and cost on employment, society and the workings of the markets.

As the manifesto is written, you will see some of the clarity that you want.

""UKIP", busted flush or not, is simply a box to be ticked on the ballot for this purpose and this would send a strong message to the three main parties that they need to tailor their policies more clearly to reflect the mood."

Part of the difficulty is that in the election next year, every vote counts. Because of the de Hondt system, a protest vote will 'count' for nothing. The reason is that if the conservative and Conservative vote is split, all that is achieved (in Wales) is the election of a second Labour MEP or a Liberal Democrat MEP. I don't believe that the Plaid vote can increase sufficiently to result in a second Plaid MEP.

Our Welsh Labour MEPs have been, outside the fame of name recognition, virtually invisible ... and after this week's conference in Bournmouth and this year's shenanigans by the Liberal Democrats in Parliament, I don't think even Liberal Democrats know what they think and want in relation to the EU.

As to UKIP's MEPs ... I don't think that their participation in the chamber has achieved anything significant - and their self-imposed marginalisation means that they have little or no impact in the work of the EU Parliament itself.

To those who think that a protest vote is a good use of their vote, or who so disfavour our membership of the EU that they believe that it is sensible not to vote at all, my arguments are as follows:

While we remain members of the EU we need to ensure that as many of our MEPs as possible are conservative minded - to achieve that, a protest vote for UKIP is, in my view, merely a protest. Fine, if that is what you want - but if you want change, then it is a vote wasted.

If you don't vote at all, then you lose, it seems to me, the right to complain about the represntation that you get in the EU Parliament - a Parliament that has some power to amend, refuse or accept proposals from the Council and from the Commission. What is more, you allow those who do vote, to have a disproportionate say because you do not vote at all.

[Ken Stevens]

Evan Price
"If you don't vote at all, then you lose.. the right to complain about the representation that you get...What is more, you allow those who do vote to have a disproportionate say because you do not vote at all.."

100% agreement on that aspect, whether EU or any other sort of election!

[Tim Montgomerie]

I will have to side with Sally, Roger, if Stuart does vote for UKIP. That is incompatible with Tory membership.

[Sally Roberts]

Thank you Tim - and thanks for clarifying this point!

[David_at_Home]

".. if Stuart does vote for UKIP. That is incompatible with Tory membership."

And I thought we had a secret ballot in this country!

More seriously, I think you mean that if Stuart came out publically in support of UKIP that would be incompatible with Tory membership.

This is indeed the dilemma we face, we who regard NOT being sucked into a USE as THE most important issue for our country. Personally, I would vote for the Devil himself if I believed that, be so doing, we could escape the clutches of the political EU. So, if I really believed that Prime Mistier Cameroon would lead us out of the EU, or even lead us into some sort of associated membership, I would once more vote for the Tories. The trouble is that I do not.

On a wider point, there are EU sceptics in the Labour Party too and many LidDem voters (but not, I think, members) are highly EU sceptic. Thus it is that UKIP draws its members than a wider pool than disaffected Tories.

[Gawain]

Tim
That is if he votes UKIP and tells everybody about it. What happens to the tens of thousands of Tory members who vote UKIP and keep schtumm?

Should they be asked to come clean and then be defenestrated?

[Nigel LeFart]

Apologies to any swivel eyed UKIP supporters that I may have offended by my past posts, and of course your pressure group does serve some purpose in highlighting the excesses of Brussels. BUT and it is a major BUT.... voting UKIP in any election is actually highly counterproductive as it divides the centre right 9assuming some of you are centre right and not extreme right) and has without a doubt helped to keep this dreadful Labour government in power, and that is why conservatives like me loath UKIP in the same way as we loath the Lib Dems. This does not make us simpering EU lovers either!

[Daniel1979]

Iain Dale - If someone gave a kidney in 2003, but not another one since, can they no longer describe themselves as a donor? Perhaps you could clarify for everyone what constitutes being a "donor" - I suspect Mr Wheeler has donated more money to the Conservative party then any one else on here. Despite anyones opinions of him this should be remembered.

If he votes UKIP, then his association with the Conservatives will be at an end; but he will always have been a donor. Infact, I don't imagine he will provide UKIP with the kind of money that he has put into the Conservatives.

The EU is a classic Conservative topic, you can make reference to classic Conservative principles of Economy, Security, good governance, Civil Liberties - and considering the extent of the EU's influence on the UK it is disappointing that so many "Conservatives" shy away from discussing the big issues... Conservative oppositions will forever more be able to tar the Conservatives with the brush that they are stuck on Europe - the reason is because Conservative are too scarred to talk sensibly about it. I guess Conservatives prefer to bury their heads in the sand and hope that a sensible policy towards the EU will fall into their laps.