Fidelity update

It's been a while since I've blogged about the Fidelity-Tories interface, so here's a quick round-up of cash donations etc since May 2010.

Direct cash donations from Fidelity to the Tories (you need to search for 'FIL' as the donor name on the Electotal Commission register) declared since the election stand at £150k. This compares with £300k donated in the year up to the election. Fidelity also donated £50k to the No campaign in the AV referendum last year, though obviously that was not a Tory-only campaign.

Fidelity also continues to employ Sir John Stanley as a consultant at £1,800 a pop. He's declared 23 days consulting with them since the election, totalling £41,400. In comparison, median annual full-time earnings are now abour £26k. According to the register of members' interests, the payments are for "attending meetings as necessary and advising on business opportunities and risks". To put in context, Sir John is MP for Tonbridge and Malling, and Fidelity's HQ is (still, I think) Tonbridge. So you may not think it's unreasonable that he works with a large local employer.

Finally, Fidelity has also sponsored a meeting of the Conservative business liaison group the Enterprise Forum:

Thursday 12 May 2011
Pension Reform
Breakfast Briefing
Steve Webb MP - Minister of State for Pensions
Kindly sponsored by Fidelity International

Again, to be fair all kinds of organisations get involved in this kind of activity, though I wonder if Fidelity also supports similar Labour events?