Wednesday, 16 September 2009

Caledonia Investments' helicopter drop

Just a quick update on Caledonia Investments. As I've blogged previously, this investment trust has successfully (with the help of some well-known asset managers) passed resolutions to give shareholders' money to the Conservatives. It's starting to show up on the Electoral Commission register. They handed over nearly £100k from last Feb to this April, and £40K in the this April alone. Much of it is targeted at Meon Valley.

Here are the details of donations in 2009 that have been picked up so far.


Conservative PartyMeon Valley
Caledonia Investments PLCstatus: Companycompany reg no: 235481
Cayzer House30 Buckingham GateLondonSW1E 6NN
02/04/09
£ 20,000.00

Conservative PartyDudley South
Caledonia Investments PLCstatus: Companycompany reg no: 235481
Cayzer House30 Buckingham GateLondonSW1E 6NN
04/04/09
£ 5,000.00

Conservative PartyMilton Keynes Federation
Caledonia Investments PLCstatus: Companycompany reg no: 235481
Calidonia investmentsCayzer House30 Buckingham GateLondonSW1E 6NN
06/04/09
£ 5,000.00

Conservative PartyEaling Central and Acton
Caledonia Investments PLCstatus: Companycompany reg no: 235481
Cayzer House30 Buckingham GateLondonSW1E 6NN
07/04/09
£ 5,000.00

Conservative PartyEltham
Caledonia Investments PLCstatus: Companycompany reg no: 235481
Cayzer House30 Buckingham GateLondonSW1E 6NN
28/04/09
£ 5,000.00

Just a quick aside, here's what Caledonia chief exec Tim Ingram had to say as justification for the donations -

"It is worth understanding why we are doing it. It is not for purely political reasons, it's economic reasons. We are an investment trust so we take equity positions in other companies, which are mainly British. We firmly believe that our shareholders will get greater wealth creation in the economic conditions created by a Tory government than by a Labour government."

Stirring stuff, but if it's so important does he use his own money? Try searching the Electoral Commission list of donors for 'Ingram'. Surprisingly no Tim Ingram appears on the list. There is a Chris Ingram listed as a Tory donor, and Tim Ingram has middle initials C and W, so possibly that's him. But even if it is he's put in quite a bit less than Caledonia's shareholders.

1 comment:

Working Man said...

The reality is quite simple, the economy and the stockmarket grow more efficiently under Conservative administrations. The horrendous mess Brown, who was described a genius by the financially illiterate for so long, has made of our economy highlights the point very nicely. Labour has historically taxed high and then poured the proceeds into non productive parts of the economy. This is characterised by the typical Brown boast of recent years of "We are now spending more on ....... than ever before", with no mention of what this expenditure is achieving. In recent years this has led to record levels of taxation, record levels of borrowing and sales of the family silver (e.g. gold reserves).Caledonia recognise this and believe that it is in the best interests of their business (and by definition the economy and therefore the country as a whole) to have a Conservative Government in place.