Bumper year for SNP as supporters hit it lucky

THE SNP has had a bumper year in terms of political donations, as the recipient of the two top donations from members of the 2012 Rich List.

Top of the list of the UK’s 40 biggest donors were lottery winning couple Colin and Chris Weir, who gave the party £1 million. They were followed by Stagecoach tycoon Sir Brian Souter, who gave the Nationalists £570,000.

In the 1980s, Mr Weir was a television cameraman and studio manager who as an SNP member volunteered to help make party political broadcasts with Alex Salmond. He stood in 1987 as the party’s candidate for Ayr, finishing fourth.

Following their £161.6m win last July, the First Minister wrote to congratulate the pair, from Largs, Ayrshire. A tea party was arranged at Bute House and the couple each gave £500,000 to the party.

Other people have also benefited from the Weirs’ generosity. They gave their home to a neighbour and bought a £850,000 replacement. They have also bought homes and cars for their children.

However, despite the huge donations, the SNP was not a recipient of any of the other top 40 donations from members of the Rich List.

Two donors gave to the Liberal Democrats. Jamie Palumbo, founder of the nightclub the Ministry of Sound, gave £298,066, and Rumi Verjee, founder of Domino’s Pizza, gave the Lib Dems £279,000.

One donor, property developer Andrew Rosengeld, gave £121,440 to Labour. All the others on the top 40 list gave to the Conservative Party.

JENNY FYALL