The super-rich socialists bankrolling Labour: Sir Keir charms posse of wealthy backers
Labor’s efforts to win over business leaders are paying off – at least in some circles.
After spending more than a year chasing CEOs, entrepreneurs and private equity moguls, The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Labor has assembled an eclectic line-up of donors.
One high-profile backer is South African-born Gary Lubner, a windshield mogul who made his fortune running the company behind Autoglass.
Other notable supporters include Sir Victor Blank, a former chairman of Mirror Group Newspapers and of Lloyds Bank when it launched the disastrous rescue of HBOS during the financial crisis.
Red alert: Eco-warrior Dale Vince once claimed his sky mining company could turn carbon in the air into diamonds
Little-known recruiting magnate Peter Hearn – whose hundreds of thousands of pounds in handouts have been earned through an obscure investment vehicle – is another.
Despite the threat of huge tax increases, the moneylenders are enamored of Sir Keir Starmer’s socialism.
But even with the backing of businessmen and traditional union funding, the party still lags behind the Tories in donations, if not polls.
The Electoral Commission revealed last week that donations to the Conservatives in the first three months of 2022 amounted to £12.3m, compared to £5.9m from Labour.
Lord Waheed Alli: the media mogul
Lord Waheed Alli is spearheading efforts to raise money for the Labor general election
Age: 58
Net assets: £200 million
2022-23 donations: £1.2 million
Lord Waheed Alli, a well-known player in left circles, is spearheading Labor’s campaign to raise money for the general election – and has made some hefty donations himself.
Earlier this year he presented Shadow Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband £10,000. Two months ago, he made an interest-free £1.2 million loan to Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh.
He made a name for himself on TV and was the mastermind behind The Big Breakfast and Survivor through his media production company Planet 24.
After being sold to Carlton Communications – now ITV Studios – he co-founded Silvergate Media with Viscount Astor, Samantha Cameron’s stepfather. That company was sold to Sony Pictures Television for £148 million in 2019.
He was less fortunate as chairman of online fashion company Koovs. Once dubbed the Asos of India, the AIM-listed company has inflicted huge losses on shareholders after going under administration in 2019.
Fran Perrin: The retail heiress
Heiress: Fran Perrin is the daughter of Lord Sainsbury of Turville
Age: 45
Net assets: £512 million
2022-23 donations: £500,000
Fran Perrin, the daughter of Lord Sainsbury of Turville, has returned to the fold of Labor donors after previously cutting ties with the party under Jeremy Corbyn.
Her donation of £500,000 to Labor last year was one of the largest in 2022. She also gave Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting £20,000 in 2021.
Her father, Lord Sainsbury, was one of Tony Blair’s biggest backers in the 1990s, but the retired retail magnate distanced himself from the party after the 2010 election defeat.
He recently resumed giving to Labor with a £2 million donation.
In addition to being a philanthropist in his own right, Perrin previously served in government advisory roles under both Blair and Brown.
Anthony Watson: The Insta Banker
Jet Set: Anthony Watson is a modern day financier with a glamorous lifestyle to match
Age: 47
Net assets: £315 million
Donations since 2019: £72,500
Anthony Watson, possibly the only millionaire Labor donor with a six-pack, is a modern day financier with a glamorous lifestyle to match.
Nicknamed the ‘Insta banker’, he launched the Bank of London in 2021.
Watson, a former executive of Nike and Barclays, unashamedly flaunts his lavish lifestyle on social media, posting photos of himself on private jets and on the ski slopes.
He recently handed over tens of thousands of pounds to several party MPs, including Dawn Butler, Peter Kyle and Wes Streeting.
He also appointed New Labor architect Lord Mandelson to his bank’s board of directors two years ago.
Another Labor politician, Baroness Margaret McDonagh, serves as an independent non-executive director.
Watson was named the party’s LGBT adviser in 2018.
Dale Vince: The eco-warrior
Controversy: Dale Vince has been a major donor to the eco-extremist group Just Stop Oil
Age: 61
Net assets: £100 million
Donations since 2013: £1.5 million
Dale Vince, who made his millions as the founder of Britain’s first green energy company, Ecotricity, has recently turned his ambitions to politics.
The former New Age traveler has given the party £1.5 million since 2013, sparking controversy as he has also been a major donor to the eco-extremist group Just Stop Oil.
He gave £10,000 to deputy leader Angela Rayner late last year.
The vegan green energy entrepreneur is also the chairman of Forest Green Rovers football team, recently relegated to League Two.
John Armitage: the hedge fund billionaire
Remnant: former Conservative donor John Armitage changed his political affiliations after Brexit
Age: 63
Net assets: £1.83 billion
2022-23 donations: £27,500
John Armitage, a former Conservative donor, is a Remainer money man who switched political allegiances after Brexit. He built his fortune through Egerton Capital, an investment company he founded in London nearly 30 years ago.
His six-year support for the Tories came to an end in 2020.
Armitage’s change of direction led him to make a £12,500 donation to Keir Starmer last year, while also handing over £15,000 to Wes Streeting.
This is far less than the £3 million he gave the Conservatives, but Armitage has already said he will not return to the Blue side unless Kemi Badenoch is elected leader.
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