Dave’s Conservatives, by Royal appointment
A SENIOR member of the Royal Family has defied centuries of convention by helping to raise funds for the Conservative Party.
Viscount Linley, the Queen’s nephew, is listed as a member of the committee behind the Tories’ biggest annual money-spinner, the Black and White Ball.[>
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With a table booking costing up to £35,000, only the elite can afford to attend but the event still sold out without being advertised.[>
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Millionaire businessmen, Michelin-star chefs, models and television presenters will rub shoulders with David and Samantha Cameron at next month’s ball, which is expected to raise an estimated £500,000 for the party.[>
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With political donations under the spotlight and cross-party negotiations on funding deadlocked, the Conservatives can usually rely on events such as the Black and White Ball as a controversy-free way of raising cash.[>
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But the presence of Viscount Linley, son of the late Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones, and his wife Serena on the fundraising committee has caused concern among Labour MPs.[>
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Chris Bryant, appointed by Gordon Brown to draw up Labour policy on the constitution, said members of the Royal Family should not be dragged into politics, even if they did not get taxpayers’ cash through the Civil List.[>
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He said: “I am sure the Tories would love to think they are there by Royal appointment but they should not undermine the Royal Family by dragging them into party politics. [>
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“For their part the Royal Family should steer clear of political fundraising.”[>
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Ian Davidson, Glasgow South West MP, sits on the Public Accounts Committee which recently investigated how taxpayers’ money was being used to support the Royal Family.[>
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He said: “It certainly sets a precedent for a member of the Royal Family to be involved in party politics. No doubt we could very soon expect to see the Duke of Edinburgh coming out in favour of the UK Independence Party and Prince Charles becoming a candidate for the Flat Earth Society.”[>
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Viscount Linley is 13th in line to the throne and chairman of the British arm of the auction house Christie’s. He own and runs a high-quality furniture business.[>
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Royal author Brian Hoey said he had never heard of a member of the Royal Family being directly engaged in party fundraising.[>
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“I would imagine he would have cleared it with someone to make sure he did not embarrass the Royal Family,” he said. [>
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“He is a very bright man and goes out of his way to make sure he does nothing to embarrass anyone, so I would have thought he would have sought advice. However, he does not undertake public duties on behalf of the Royal Family. He is an independent businessman and an elector, so in that sense he is free to do as he likes.”[>
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Viscount Linley’s spokeswoman was unavailable for comment.[>
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A Conservative Party spokes-man conceded that his involvement was “unusual” but he added: “The ball is a fundraising occasion for the party but is not actually run by the party.”[>
