Blowing a court case in 1976 Labour and Liberals both have this legal The Conservative Party does not, making it not liable for corporation tax. But thanks to the it still ultimately benefits in full from wills, trusts and deeds of covenant. The system was uncovered by Rosie Waterhouse in The Independent in 1988. volved were named by alphabetical order from A to H. The first six - the Arun, Bourne, Colne, were all formed in dation say their aim is "to supche Conservative and Unionist Party".
Two more companies, the Garry and Hamble Associations, were established in 1962 "to promote the democratic way of life".
The river companies thought to have taken in almost f2.6m from UK companies between 1954 and 1963, well over a third of the party's E6.2m income from donations between these years.
Full Companies House records are only avallable for 1968 to 1982, and show that they declined in importance in this Carrying a lot of weight among Tory donors: BA bossLord King over to Central Office.
hive of the river companies were dissolved in 1984, with all dered to be destroyed in 1989. All assets were passed to the Arun, Bourne and Colne associations.
The Bourne Association bought the freehold on Conservative Central Office from Tory: controlled Westminster council in 1981. It resold it at a profit, passed on to the party, while retaining lease property. A council internal inulry cent heste had been fions that the site had undervalued.
Conservative politicians often ibe at Labour's and have forced unions to ballot on maintaining the political levy. Indeed, many on the Labour Party right seem almost ashamed of trade union financial support.
Let us answer loud and clear. The labour movement is not dedowy companies and secret from convicted criminais, businessmen on trial on corruption charges or fascist sympathisers (see box).
Labour movement tunding is clean money, with every penny properly accounted for. Balance heets are open for public inspection. The Tories should cither open their books or shut their traps. • JACK LYONS, a Leeds-based financier convicted of fraud in the Guiness affair. Lyons was fined [3m and stripped of his knighthood, but avoided prison.
is thought he C500,000 to the Tories, which clearty bought him influence in the upper achelons of the party. On his invita don, then prime minister Margaret Thatcher attended a lunch with Guiness advisors Bain & Co as its takoover bid for Distllers was in progress.
• GERALD RONSON, founder of the Heron Corooration fined ESm and sentenced to 12 months in jail for his part in the Guinness scandal. While he has now almost certainiy stopped donating, he is said to have boasted of handing over milions of pounds.
This is impossible to check. Ownership of Heron Corporabion has been transferred to the British Virgin Islanos, wnete companes do have to reveal political donations.
loophole in the 1981 Finance Act, BVI companies can also to per cent withnolding tax on UK dividends • ASIL NADIR, former chief of the collapsod Polly Pock empire, which went bust leaving debts of over £1000m. Nadir faces charges of stealing E123m trom the company: ne gave the Tories £1.5n vas made by one Poily Peck subsidiary without the legally-required feclaration. The Conservatives roluse to retur the money. on ux grons hat wa a0/0 000 • NAZMU VIRANI, formerly the major shareholder in Control Britain's aroes asian owned business. He was sub Boat trip: Diana sequently sacked, and currently aces fraud charges alleging that alse loans from the collapsed Bank of Credt and Commerc interna tonal were booked through Control Securities. to the Asian community, he helped raise over E1m and gave substanfal sums himseit.
• The Bank of Credit and Commerce international - perpetrators of to he Tarles. Morener Po Tae lo the MPs including Sir Julian Ridsdale. as paid consultants to BCCI.
• JOHN LATSIS, a Greek shipowner and someme arms dealer. with banking interests in London or colabor tine a collaborating with Nazis after World War Two, and was a major backer of the miltary regime which usurped power in 1967. Fahd of Saudi Arabia and also move: Prince Charles and Princess Diana his luxury yacht for a 'second honey. moon'.
• The Tories have blatantly hirds of industrialists honoured by up from one-third under Heath.
No. 40 Alfred McAlpine (C10,000); John Mowiem (C33,000); Newanmi Lob,oob! P&O ((100,000); Pearson (Financial Times)| ((25,000); Provident Financial LID JUU! Racal (C25,000): Kank Organisaho!
(€25,000); Rank Hovis McDougall (C20,000); Ratners ((25,000); Reject Shop (€1,000); Scotlish & Newcastle Sedgwick Group ((20,000); Smith New Court (C2,6X)); Smithkline Beecham (C50,000); Smiths Industries (15.(0A Sun Alliance (C50,000); Sun Life (€20,000); John Swire & sons (Cathay Pacific)
((25,000); Tarmac (C55,000); Taylor Woodrow (690,975); Trafalgar House (€40,000); Trust Flousc Forte United Biscuits ((130,000); United Newspapers ((6000); Vickers (C55,000); Whit bread (030.020) Willis Coroon (€25,000). The following companies donate to British United Industrialists, a rightwing organisation which in turn funds the Conservative Party and orner oro tree carem prise groups: Anglo United (Coalite)
(€20,000); Marks & Spencer (C25,000); John Menzies (C10,000). Sourcr: Company donations to the Conservative Party and other political Labour Party Policy Directorate Nozember 1992. April, 1993
In "PAy ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING soon dashed when the leaderships have acted like