Tories come under fire in new cash for access row

Published on Thursday 26 August 2010 15:38

The Conservative Party has come under fire for allegedly offering access to ministers at a £1,000-a-plate dinner at the party conference in October.

The inaugural Conservative Party Business Dinner is being marketed as an exclusive networking event where places start at 500. Each table of ten is to be hosted by a prominent Conservative MP but individuals prepared to spend 1,000 are apparently guaranteed access to at least one serving government minister.

These platinum tables will be situated near the top table and guest of honour George Osborne. In addition, the diners gain access to the conference VIP lounge and reserved seats in the hall during David Cameron's speech.

Because the fee for the seat is below the legal limit for declaring donations the diners' identities will remain secret. Money raised from the event at Birmingham's International Conference Centre will go towards party funds.

Sir Alistair Graham the former chairman of the committee on standards in public life said the Conservative plans give "the impression you can buy the opportunity to influence government."

He added: "Governing parties need to be very careful about their fund-raising. The public reacts very strongly to the idea that you can buy influence with government."

Labour MP Michael Dugher said: "This is cash-for-access pure and simple. For all the Conservative talk of new politics, this is the same old Tory sleaze.

"Selling access to government ministers at 1,000 a head is just grubby."

Party fundraising has always been a feature of the autumn conferences and in opposition the Tories routinely held Dining Club events to give major backers access to senior party figures.