Letter: Money matters in party politics

IN HIS article (Insight, 1 April), Duncan Hamilton writes about the correlation of political donations leading to access to a party leader, which in turn may lead to the ability to influence that party’s policies.

The article focuses on the Conservative Party in England and mentions access to Downing Street.

As a former employee of the SNP, he should know that the most obvious example of donation/access/influence was here in Scotland when Sir Brian Souter made his first £500,000 donation to the SNP which could be construed as influencing the SNP to abandon its manifesto commitment to re-regulate the bus services. This was followed by a further £500,000 which may or may not have led to a knighthood for services to the transport industry.

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His sister, Mrs Ann Gloag, although being equally involved in the transport industry was not recommended for any honour, overlooking her activity in the charity to provide eye treatment in Africa. As an equal shareholder in Stagecoach with her brother, the only difference between the siblings was £500,000.

Douglas Scot Murray, Edinburgh