This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6934329.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Donor condemns Cameron leadership | Donor condemns Cameron leadership |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A major Conservative donor has accused David Cameron of an "arrogant, Old Etonian" style of leadership and said he would give the party no more money. | A major Conservative donor has accused David Cameron of an "arrogant, Old Etonian" style of leadership and said he would give the party no more money. |
| Sir Tom Cowie, who has paid £630,000 to the Tories over the past six years, said he had become "disillusioned". | Sir Tom Cowie, who has paid £630,000 to the Tories over the past six years, said he had become "disillusioned". |
| He is now planning to make donations to the Prince's Trust charity instead. | He is now planning to make donations to the Prince's Trust charity instead. |
| A spokesman for Mr Cameron said a lot of new donors had come to the Tories and changing the party meant some people would be unhappy. | A spokesman for Mr Cameron said a lot of new donors had come to the Tories and changing the party meant some people would be unhappy. |
| 'Disillusioned' | 'Disillusioned' |
| Despite Sir Tom's withdrawal of his financial support, the Conservative Party is in better financial health than its rivals. | Despite Sir Tom's withdrawal of his financial support, the Conservative Party is in better financial health than its rivals. |
| Last year, it raised £14.9m in donations, compared with £5.41m for Labour and £5.8m for the Lib Dems. | Last year, it raised £14.9m in donations, compared with £5.41m for Labour and £5.8m for the Lib Dems. |
| In February, it made a profit of about £15m on the sale of its former Smith Square headquarters, in Westminster, enabling it to clear most of its debts. | |
| Labour is £26.2m in debt according to the most recent figures filed with the Electoral Commission. I will not mince my words: I shan't send them any more money Sir Tom Cowie | Labour is £26.2m in debt according to the most recent figures filed with the Electoral Commission. I will not mince my words: I shan't send them any more money Sir Tom Cowie |
| Sir Tom, who backed Mr Cameron's leadership bid in 2005, told the Guardian newspaper he was "very, very disappointed" with the Tory leader's performance. | Sir Tom, who backed Mr Cameron's leadership bid in 2005, told the Guardian newspaper he was "very, very disappointed" with the Tory leader's performance. |
| He said he was "disillusioned" with Mr Cameron's style of leadership, after what he described as a series of blunders. | He said he was "disillusioned" with Mr Cameron's style of leadership, after what he described as a series of blunders. |
| He cited the Tory leader's decision to go to Rwanda during the recent flooding in England, which affected Mr Cameron's Witney constituency, and the party row over ending support for grammar schools. | He cited the Tory leader's decision to go to Rwanda during the recent flooding in England, which affected Mr Cameron's Witney constituency, and the party row over ending support for grammar schools. |
| The 84-year-old entrepreneur, who gave more than £500,000 to the party's 2005 general election campaign, said he would not be switching political allegiance to Labour. | The 84-year-old entrepreneur, who gave more than £500,000 to the party's 2005 general election campaign, said he would not be switching political allegiance to Labour. |
| In response to a question about the present state of the Conservatives, he said: "Are you sure you don't want to hear foul language?" | In response to a question about the present state of the Conservatives, he said: "Are you sure you don't want to hear foul language?" |
| 'Don't understand' | 'Don't understand' |
| He added: "All I can say is I am very, very disappointed with the state of the party. | He added: "All I can say is I am very, very disappointed with the state of the party. |
| "I will not mince my words: I shan't send them any more money." | "I will not mince my words: I shan't send them any more money." |
| Sir Tom also said: "The Tory party seems to be run now by Old Etonians and they don't seem to understand how other people live. | Sir Tom also said: "The Tory party seems to be run now by Old Etonians and they don't seem to understand how other people live. |
| "They seem to be very arrogant like I suppose Old Etonians can be. They certainly don't understand about grammar schools." | "They seem to be very arrogant like I suppose Old Etonians can be. They certainly don't understand about grammar schools." |
| Sir Tom, who took over his father's bicycle repair business in 1948 and built it up into transport firm Arriva, is a former chairman of Sunderland Football Club. | Sir Tom, who took over his father's bicycle repair business in 1948 and built it up into transport firm Arriva, is a former chairman of Sunderland Football Club. |
| After the 2005 general election defeat, he said the then Tory leader Michael Howard should go "in hours or days". | After the 2005 general election defeat, he said the then Tory leader Michael Howard should go "in hours or days". |
| However, in October 2003 Sir Tom called on party members to stand by Mr Howard's under-fire predecessor Iain Duncan Smith, who was later ousted. | However, in October 2003 Sir Tom called on party members to stand by Mr Howard's under-fire predecessor Iain Duncan Smith, who was later ousted. |