Richard Bransons Virgin has donated thousands to the Conservatives
Some 35 of the richest 100 people in Britain have donated £19 million to the Tories proving the Tories are still the party of the rich elite.
The list includes Richard Branson's Virgin Group companies, who have given the Tories more than £70,000 donations since 2001.
More than a third of the Sunday Times Rich List, published today, are Conservative donors, according to a Labour party analysis.
The wealthy backers, who include property moguls, financiers and retail CEOs, have a combined net worth of more than £123 million.
Since last year’s election, three of the richest 100 people in Britain have given the Tories more than £180,000.
JCB boss Lord Bamford and his family have given the party almost £115,000 since last May, and more than £7.7 million since 2001.
Tetra Pak billionaire Hans Rausing and his family have donated more than £1.2 million.
Ukrainian-born investment mogul Len Blavatnik, who ranks second on the Rich List, has given more than £150,000 to the party.
The list includes Richard Branson's Virgin Group companies, who have given the Tories more than £70,000 worth of non-cash donations since 2001.
A Virgin Management spokesperson said: “Sir Richard Branson avoids party politics and has never given a personal donation to any political party. This 'donation' represents Virgin Atlantic flights and flight upgrades given to the Conservative party since 2001. Flights and flight upgrades have been given to all three main political parties, including the Labour Party and many were to support important charity work in countries such as Kenya.”
The Reuben Brothers, who jointly held the top spot in last year’s list, but have slipped to third place this time around, sent the Tories four grand between 2001 and 2015.
It comes after Theresa May promised last year that her government would not be driven “by the interests of the rich and powerful.”
More than 75,000 sign petition calling for Richard Branson's Virgin Care to hand settlement money back to NHS
More than 75,000 people have signed a petition calling for Richard Branson’s private healthcare company to return cash it was given by the NHS.
Anger has been growing at the payment after it was revealed just one local health service group reached a reported £328,000 settlement with Virgin Care.
Mr Branson’s company sued the NHS last year after it lost out on a £82m contract to provide children’s health services across Surrey, citing concerns over “serious flaws” in the way the contract was awarded.
Virgin Care filed proceedings in the UK High Court naming the six local NHS commissioning groups (CCGs) in Surrey, as well as Surrey Council and NHS England.
One CCG - NHS Surrey Downs - accidentally disclosed in its October public finance papers that its liability over the case was £328,000, the Health Service Journal reported. But there is speculation the total settlement could be as high as £2m when the other five commissioning groups are taken into account.
Virgin Care and NHS Guildford and Waverley CCG, which was the lead group, both told The Independent the details of the settlement were “confidential”.
The petition reads: “Virgin Care, Richard Branson’s healthcare company, has sued the National Health Service, after failing to win a contract. Surrey NHS commissioners felt the services would be better provided by a partnership of NHS organisations, but in the face of Virgin’s threats, to avoid having to fight a court case, they paid Virgin an amount which some reports suggest is as high as £2m.
“When the NHS is under severe financial pressure, it cannot afford to lose this money. Richard Branson, however, with an estimated personal wealth of over £3.5bn, can manage perfectly comfortably without it.
“This petition asks that Virgin Care returns the money to the National Health Service, and asks Richard Branson to apologise and make a personal commitment that Virgin Care will never again sue the NHS after losing out on a contract.”
John Ashworth, Labour's shadow health secretary, said: “It’s scandalous that NHS money is being wasted on fighting off legal bids from private companies.
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