Theresa May accepted a £15,000 donation from a controversial businessman who sparked a firestorm when he was named in David Cameron’s resignation honours.
The new Prime Minister took the money from oil boss Ian Taylor in early July, according to Parliamentary records released this morning:
Mr Taylor, who also gave substantial sums to the Remain campaign in the EU referendum, was reportedly in line for a knighthood in a move derided as Cameron rewarding his political allies in a “chumocracy” merry-go-round.
But he asked to be struck from Cameron’s list after widespread criticism.
Theresa May – who has the power to block Cameron’s appointments – refused to intervene, saying it would “set a very bad precedent”.
Questions will now be asked of May after it emerged that the most controversial beneficiary of Cameron’s list also gave her a large sum of money.
Until this morning she had not declared her links to Taylor, whose total worth is estimated to be £175 million.
The cash – revealed this morning as part of a £275,000 tranche of donations – was to help her win the contest to become Tory leader, and therefore Prime Minister.
The cash likely proved of little use, given that the campaign ceased in a matter of days after rival Andrea Leadsom dropped out and May was made PM by default.
Downing Street refused to disclose how much of the money she did manage to spend, but said any leftover cash would go into the party’s general coffers.
A spokesman said: “Surplus money raised but not spent will be donated to Conservative Campaign Headquarters, as per the rules set out by the 1922 Committee.”
Ian Taylor declined to comment.