Tory funding by big housing developers at PMQs

[Tony Gosling]

10/07/2013
Roberta Blackman-Woods questions Cameron on donor links
Today, Wednesday 10 July, Roberta asked the Prime 
Minister to admit the extent to which large 
housing developers have been involved in drawing 
up Conservative Party Planning Policy.
Large housing developers are major contributors 
to the Conservative party along with hedge funds, 
banks and a number of individuals who have made millions in the City.
Since 2010 the Tory-led Government has embarked 
on a series of planning reforms which have been 
immensely popular with large developers but 
widely criticised by rural and environmental 
groups, local councils and planning experts.
The Prime Minister refused to answer Roberta’s 
question and wrongly stated that she is a member of the Unite Trade Union.
David Cameron also rejected Labour’s call to 
impose a £5,000 cap on donations from individuals, businesses and trade unions.
Roberta said;
“I was extremely disappointed that the Prime 
Minister dodged my question today. People have a 
right to know whether and how Conservative Party 
Donors in big business influence Tory Party Policy.
It says a lot about the Prime Minister that 
rather than tackle this serious issue he wrongly 
accused me of being a member of Unite which 
represents millions of hardworking people.”
On Party funding Roberta said;
“I believe we need to fundamentally reform how 
Britain’s political parties are funded and it is 
not surprising that the Tory-led Government, who 
are bank rolled by a handful of 
multi-millionaires at the very top of society, 
will not support reforms to make politics fairer and more transparent.
We want to work more effectively with trade union 
members and trade unions so that, together, we 
can change our communities and our country for better.”
http://www.roberta.org.uk/news/news_detail.asp?aID=1038

Real Estate £617,665.55
  1. IM Properties plc £69,401.50
  2. Debbie S Fiorentino £64,329.25
  3. CC Property Company Ltd £63,500
  4. Realreed Ltd £53,137.60
  5. Thomas F Harrison £53,012.84

Construction  £224,641.65
  1=. Wates Group Services Ltd  £50,000
  1=.  Leonard J Nike  £50,000
  1=.  Aggregate Industries UK Ltd £50,000
  4.   Keltbray Ltd £24,500
  5.   Robert M Kirkland  £12,642.65
http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2011/09/30/the-biggest-conservative-donors-from-beyond-the-square-mile/

Conservatives given millions by property developers
  The Conservative Party has received millions of 
pounds in donations from developers who stand to 
benefit from the Government’s controversial 
planning reforms, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
Permission to be granted for 90 new homes on 
greenfield site Cranborne Chase, Wiltshire Photo: ALAMY
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/hands-off-our-land/8754027/Conservatives-given-millions-by-property-developers.html
  By  Heidi Blake  -   9:34PM BST 09 Sep 2011
  Dozens of property firms have given a total of 
£3.3?million to the party over the past three 
years, including large gifts from companies seeking to develop rural land.
  Developers are also paying thousands of pounds 
for access to senior Tories through the 
Conservative Property Forum, a club of elite 
donors which sets up “breakfast meetings” to 
discuss planning and property issues.
The disclosures are likely to provoke a new 
“cash-for-access” row and will give rise to fears 
that planning policies could have been influenced 
by powerful figures from the property industry.
  The Coalition will also face a backlash next 
week from more than 80 rural MPs and peers, who 
will meet to discuss concerns that relaxing 
planning policy will see hundreds of wind 
turbines built in the countryside. The Daily 
Telegraph has launched the Hands Off Our Land 
campaign to urge ministers to rethink the 
measures, joining opposition from the National 
Trust, English Heritage and the Campaign to 
Protect Rural England. The guidance states that 
there should be a “presumption in favour of 
sustainable development”, which campaigners have 
warned would give developers “carte blanche”.
  Bill Cash, who is organising the meeting of 
back-bench MPs and peers, said last night: “This 
is a demonstration of the deep concern and the first shot across the bows.
  “The developers will have the whip hand. When 
you are talking about economic benefit, the 
benefits of England’s green and pleasant land to 
tourism and the scenery is as important as anything else.”
  The Conservative Planning Forum raises around 
£150,000 a year for the Tory party and charges 
members £2,500 to meet senior MPs to discuss policy and planning issues.
  Mike Slade, its chairman, has given more than 
£300,000 over the past decade, individually and 
through his property firm, Helical Bar.
  Mr Slade advocated reforms to encourage local 
authorities to “see the benefits of development” 
three years ago, when he warned the Tories to 
“get over” their image as “nimbys”.
  The forum met Grant Shapps, who is now housing 
minister, while the Conservatives were in 
opposition early last year, after Mr Slade had 
written an article strongly critical of plans to 
devolve more planning powers to local authorities.
  Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, will 
meet some of the nation’s biggest housebuilders 
at a conference next week where he will give the keynote speech.
  His presence is likely to lead to further 
claims that ministers are “stacking the deck” in favour of developers.
  Conservation groups have complained bitterly of 
a lack of access to ministers over the proposals 
and the National Trust has demanded a meeting 
with David Cameron. Some of the Tories’ biggest 
donors are from the property world. David and 
Simon Reuben, billionaires who own Millbank Tower 
in Westminster, have given almost £500,000 over 
the past decade, while Terence Cole, a 
London-based developer, donated almost £300,000. 
IM Properties, which is expanding Birch Coppice 
Business Park, near Tamworth, Staffs, has given around £1?million since 2009.
  A senior Tory MP, who did not wish to be named, 
accused the Chancellor, George Osborne, of 
“shoe-horning in” the presumption in favour of 
development in a bid to stimulate the economy.
  He said: “This is a clear example of localism 
being hijacked. Developers will have state 
licence to print money and we will see a 
proliferation of identikit suburbs springing up 
in the countryside.” The Conservative party last 
night strongly denied that planning policies had 
been influenced by donations from developers. A 
spokesman said: “These are Coalition policies 
based on principles laid out before the election 
by both Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. 
There is absolutely no link between donations to 
the Conservative party and Conservative planning 
policy – to suggest otherwise is untrue, misleading and unfair.”
  He said that reforms would “maintain the protection of green space”.
  A spokesman for the Reuben brothers said 
neither had talked with ministers about planning 
at any time, while Terence Cole said he had not 
met ministers or Tory MPs to discuss planning reform.
  Mr Slade and IM Properties were unavailable for comment.

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