Civic responsibility

9.00.00am GMT Thu 11th Mar 2010

Ashton Gardens

Once upon a time very very wealthy men believed that they had a responsibility of some sort to the community in which they lived and made their fortune. So, as just one example, here in Fylde Lord Ashton gave us Ashton Gardens.[pictured] This is what really lies at the heart of the concern over Conservative Party financial backers in general & Lord Ashcroft in particular. The Financial Times (not noted for being anti-Conservative) ran best part of a full page analysis on 13th February. Since 2006 £ 4.8 million has come into Tory coffers from those involved in the property sector & five leading City supporters (not including Lord Ashcroft) have given over £9 million. One of these, Conservative Party Treasurer Michael Spencer, made £45million from the sale of shares in a company he controlled just weeks before a profit warning and the shares dived. He has done nothing illegal. Lib Dem Treasury spokesman, Lord Oakshott, drily described the sale as 'inspired'. These men (mostly men) probably can't even count how wealthy they are and wouldn't miss the taxes that they so assiduously avoid paying. It leaves a nasty taste and renders totally incredible the image that David Cameron would have us believe of a fair & transparent Tory Party concerned for the welfare of ordinary citizens.