") no-repeat center center;background-size:10px 16px;content:' '}@media(min-width:768px){.gBkjJh::before{display:none}}@media(min-width:1000px){.iZwHvr .taboola{display:none}}.iZwHvr:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails){min-height:426px}.iZwHvr:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:405px}@media(min-width:1000px){.iZwHvr:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails),.iZwHvr:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:0}}.jImJId .tp-container-inner,.jImJId .sc-1suqprf-0{position:relative;box-shadow:0 -22px 16px 22px rgba(255,255,255,0.95)}.jImJId.closed{display:none}.jNXFXZ{width:32px;color:#3b5998}@media(min-width:768px){.jNXFXZ.mobile-only{display:none}}.jNXFXZ:hover{color:#2f4779}.ksPZud{width:32px;color:#000}@media(min-width:768px){.ksPZud.mobile-only{display:none}}.ksPZud:hover{color:#4e4e4e}.SVrrg{width:32px;color:#25d366}@media(min-width:768px){.SVrrg.mobile-only{display:none}}.SVrrg:hover{color:#1da851}.pOgFh{width:32px;color:#ec1a2e}@media(min-width:768px){.pOgFh.mobile-only{display:none}}.pOgFh:hover{color:#ac2a2c}.dJrOFo{display:flex;gap:12px}.eZumoJ{position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:2147483644;background:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);cursor:pointer;opacity:0;transition:opacity 300ms ease-in-out}.eZumoJ.overlay-background--open{width:100vw;height:100vh;opacity:1}.dRVLpc{--trans:300ms ease-in-out;position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:2147483645;width:100vw;height:100vh;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transform:translateY(-24px);transform-origin:top center;transition:transform var(--trans),opacity var(--trans)}.dRVLpc.overlay--open{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0);transition-delay:150ms}.dRVLpc.overlay--open>:first-child{pointer-events:auto}.cWTSTp .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.cWTSTp:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0,.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.cWTSTp:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1,.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.cWTSTp.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:block}.eoIBc{--margin-x:12px;--modal-width:calc(100% - (var(--margin-x) * 2));--modal-max-width:351px;--padding:60px 16px 42px;--line-height:1.25;display:flex;position:fixed;top:50%;left:50%;overflow:auto;width:var(--modal-width);max-width:var(--modal-max-width);max-height:100vh;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:var(--padding);background-color:#eaf2f2;box-shadow:0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);line-height:var(--line-height);transform:translate(-50%,-50%)}@media(min-width:768px){.eoIBc{--modal-width:600px;--modal-max-width:none;--padding:72px 80px 64px;--line-height:1.2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.eoIBc{--modal-width:635px}}.fNhASP{--close-button-margin:16px;position:absolute;top:var(--close-button-margin);right:var(--close-button-margin)}@media(min-width:768px){.fNhASP{--close-button-margin:24px}}.caBZHW{width:100%;max-width:437px;margin-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.caBZHW{margin-bottom:18px}}.dgWryu{position:absolute;overflow:hidden;width:.01em;height:.01em;padding:0;border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);white-space:nowrap}.eUOcMf{width:100%;margin:0}.dEYNzg{margin:0 0 30px;font:bold 26px/1.15 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif}@media(min-width:768px){.dEYNzg{font:bold 28px/1.15 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif}}.itdeLI{display:block;width:100%;padding:0;margin:0 0 30px;font:normal 16px/1.44 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.itdeLI{font:normal 20px/1.44 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.funPAy{display:block;margin-top:30px;color:#222;font:normal 16px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.bXVQbr{padding:0}.GwNrt{display:inline-block;width:32px;height:32px;color:#337e81}.cJKiex{display:flex;flex-direction:row;justify-content:center;gap:12px}.frITsM{display:flex;position:relative;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.frITsM{justify-content:flex-end;padding-top:12px;margin:0}}.frITsM.amp-social-share svg{width:60%;height:60%;margin:20%;fill:#fff}.frITsM.amp-social-share [type='facebook'] svg,.frITsM.amp-social-share [title='bookmark'] svg{width:100%;height:100%;margin:0}.frITsM.amp-social-share amp-social-share{margin:0 6px;border-radius:50%;background:0;outline:0}.frITsM.amp-social-share amp-social-share:first-of-type{margin-left:0}.frITsM.amp-social-share amp-social-share:last-of-type{margin-right:0}@media(min-width:768px){.frITsM.amp-social-share .share-mobile-only{display:none}}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-bookmark svg{display:block;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-bookmark:hover{opacity:.85}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-facebook{background:#3b5998}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-facebook:hover{background:#2f4779}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-twitter{--color:#000;--color-alt:#4e4e4e;background:var(--color)}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-twitter:hover{background:var(--color-alt)}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-whatsapp{background:#25d366}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-whatsapp:hover{background:#1da851}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-whatsapp svg{width:70%;height:auto;margin:15%}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-email{background:#ec1a2e}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-email:hover{background:#ac2a2c}.frITsM.amp-social-share .amp-social-share-email svg path{stroke:#fff}.kdvWjb{display:flex}.sticky .kdvWjb{flex-direction:column}.bfkmcy{overflow:hidden;height:23px;margin-bottom:8px;border-bottom:0;clear:both}@media(min-width:768px){.bfkmcy{height:25px}}.fczuIa{display:inline-block;flex-shrink:0;margin:0 12px 0 0;font:bold 14px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.fczuIa::after{content:':'}.IOUwh{display:inline-block;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:4px;color:#222;font:normal 14px/1.29 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration:underline}.IOUwh::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}@media(min-width:1000px){.subscribed .bwpCMN{margin-top:-184px}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .subscribed .bwpCMN{margin-top:-407px}}.bwpCMN>p{margin:16px 0}.article-premium .bwpCMN>p{line-height:27px}.bwpCMN>h2{font-size:21px}.article-climate .bwpCMN>h2{color:#ec1a2e}.article-sgi .bwpCMN>h2{color:#ec1a2e}.bwpCMN>p:first-child{margin-top:0}.bwpCMN span:first-child~p:first-of-type{margin-top:0}.hQjaQn{display:flex;position:relative;max-width:100%;min-height:600px;justify-content:center;margin:0 auto;background-color:transparent;clear:both}@media(min-width:1000px){.hQjaQn{min-height:450px}}.teads .hQjaQn{display:block}.hQjaQn [data-mpu]{position:sticky;top:16px}@media(min-width:1000px){.jZcooN{display:none}}.jZcooN[data-mpu1]{min-height:600px}.jZcooN.pb-20{padding-bottom:20px}.hlPMMm{margin:0 0 24px;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.euTVax{font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.jBfdop{overflow:hidden;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:768px){.jBfdop{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.jBfdop{max-width:622px}}.hKRbzg{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:8px 12px 12px;border-top:8px solid #ec1a2e;background-color:#fde8ea}@media(min-width:768px){.hKRbzg{padding-top:4px;padding-bottom:12px}}.cKIkhp{font:bold 22px/26px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;margin:0 0 12px;text-align:center}@media(min-width:768px){.cKIkhp{font:bold 30px/34px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.048px;margin-bottom:12px;text-align:left}}.feSJtK{display:block;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.feSJtK{display:none}}.bErStG{display:flex;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px;background-color:#fde8ea;color:#ec1a2e}@media(min-width:768px){.bErStG{width:auto;justify-content:flex-start}}.vaVnf{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.jWuFRk{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.jWuFRk:hover .sc-hez36s-5,.jWuFRk:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c}.hKrnEq{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.dWUzhG{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column}@media(min-width:768px){.dWUzhG{display:flow-root;gap:24px;transition:margin-bottom .3s ease-in-out}}.bDgIJb{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.bDgIJb{position:relative;z-index:1;width:212px;flex-shrink:0;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:24px;float:right}}.EYumw{display:none;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px}@media(min-width:768px){.EYumw{display:flex;margin-top:12px}}.kCOwPr{display:flex;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.kCOwPr{display:none}}.iGXncB{display:flex;overflow:hidden;height:0;flex-direction:column;gap:8px;opacity:0;transition:all .3s ease-in-out}@media(min-width:768px){.iGXncB{display:flex;position:relative;width:auto;height:40px;order:-1;opacity:1;transition-behavior:allow-discrete}.iGXncB::after{--fade-from:rgba(253,232,234,0);--fade-to:#fde8ea;position:absolute;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:1;width:100%;height:40px;background-image:linear-gradient(to bottom,var(--fade-from),var(--fade-to));content:'';opacity:1;transition:opacity 150ms ease-out}}@media(min-width:768px){.doTReP{order:-1}}.ggPDxB{display:none;padding-top:8px;margin-top:16px;border-top:1px solid #919191}@media(max-width:767px){.ggPDxB{display:flex}}.gibhIT{display:none}@media(min-width:768px){.gibhIT{display:flex;position:relative;align-items:flex-start;margin-top:12px}}.dxwzhm{display:flex;min-height:600px;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:1000px){.dxwzhm{min-height:450px}}.gHNATZ{min-height:600px}@media(min-width:1000px){.gHNATZ{min-height:450px}}.gHNATZ.mobile-only{display:block}@media(min-width:1000px){.gHNATZ.mobile-only{display:none}}.gHNATZ.desktop-only{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.gHNATZ.desktop-only{display:block;margin-bottom:16px}}.gHNATZ.desktop-only+p{margin-top:0}.gHNATZ .third-party-ad{position:sticky;top:16px}.bJycyU{width:100%;flex-grow:1}.bJycyU .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{display:block;overflow:hidden;max-height:360px}.bJycyU .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide] .social-share{display:none}.bJycyU .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide].show-all-content{max-height:100%}@media(max-width:594px){.bJycyU .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{max-height:530px}}.bJycyU .amp-newsletter-reg-gate{position:relative;left:-12px;width:calc(100% + 24px)}.bJycyU .social-share{width:100%;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.bJycyU .social-share{justify-content:flex-start}}.bJycyU .social-share.sticky{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.bJycyU .social-share.sticky{display:flex;position:sticky;top:14px;width:34px;flex-direction:column;padding-top:0;margin-top:0;margin-left:-25%}.bJycyU .social-share.sticky amp-social-share,.bJycyU .social-share.sticky .sc-mgcah7-0{margin:0 0 16px}.article-feature-video .bJycyU .social-share.sticky{margin-top:0}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .bJycyU .social-share.sticky{margin-top:35%}}.bJycyU.sponsored-article img,.bJycyU.sponsored-article video{width:100%;max-width:602px;height:auto}.bJycyU.sponsored-article iframe{max-width:602px;max-height:400px}.bJycyU .under-article-prompt-donations{padding-bottom:8px;margin-top:-3px}.bJycyU .big-letter{--color:#222;display:flex;position:relative;width:0;height:0;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:40px;margin-top:22px;margin-right:12px;border:1px solid var(--color);float:left;font:normal 52px/1 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;text-transform:uppercase}.bJycyU .big-letter:first-child{margin-top:6px}.bJycyU .big-letter::before{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid var(--color);border-radius:50%;content:''}.bJycyU #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:2350px}@media(min-width:768px){.bJycyU #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:3370px}}.bJycyU #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:130px}@media(min-width:768px){.bJycyU #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:415px}}.bJycyU .sc-fwko30-0+.sc-1xtsh2b-0{margin-top:-16px}@media(min-width:768px){.bJycyU{max-width:636px;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bJycyU{max-width:624px;margin:0}.bJycyU.subscribed{max-width:636px}}@media(max-width:999px){.bJycyU{padding-right:0}.bJycyU .under-article-prompt-donations{margin-top:-18px}}.bJycyU .anchor-nav-header{scroll-margin-top:79px}.bJycyU .anchor-nav-header a{color:#222}.bJycyU .anchor-nav-header a:hover{color:#222}.kvSKnI{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:8px;color:#646464;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.kvSKnI{width:70%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:0;font:normal 16px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.kvSKnI{width:70%;margin-bottom:0}}.eXEVFg{display:flex;height:20px;margin:0 12px 8px 0}.article-voices .eXEVFg{height:auto}@media(min-width:425px){.article-voices .eXEVFg{height:20px}}.eXEVFg::before{display:inline-block;align-self:center;margin-top:1px;margin-right:12px;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.eXEVFg:first-child::before{content:none}@media(min-width:768px){.eXEVFg{height:24px;margin-bottom:0}.eXEVFg::before{margin-top:2px}}.eXEVFg time{display:block}.eXEVFg time::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}.eIoMWw{display:inline-block;margin:0 12px 8px 0;color:#ec1a2e;font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.5px}.eIoMWw:hover,.eIoMWw:active{color:#ac2a2c}@media(min-width:768px){.eIoMWw{margin-bottom:0}}.hBKmwt{margin:0 12px 8px -8px}@media(min-width:768px){.hBKmwt{margin-bottom:0}}.enHDwq{margin:0 4px 8px 0}.enHDwq::before{display:inline-block;margin-top:2px;margin-right:12px;color:#646464;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.enHDwq:first-child::before{display:none}@media(min-width:768px){.enHDwq{margin-bottom:0}}.hfnwMY{display:flex;justify-content:flex-start;padding:0;margin:0 0 16px}@media(min-width:768px){.hfnwMY{display:flex;width:30%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.hfnwMY{width:30%}}.hrDjjf{padding-top:0;border-top:0;border-bottom:0}@media(min-width:768px){.hrDjjf{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;padding-bottom:16px}.hrDjjf .sc-1qz44j0-0{order:1}.hrDjjf .sc-1qz44j0-10{order:2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.hrDjjf{flex-direction:row}}.dlBKBu{padding:16px 12px 12px;text-align:left;font:bold 14px/18px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.dlBKBu{padding:16px 16px 12px}}.article-infact .dlBKBu{padding:16px 0}@media(min-width:1000px){.dlBKBu{padding:24px 0 19px}.article-feature .dlBKBu{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto}}.dlBKBu a{color:#222}.dlBKBu a:hover{color:#ac2a2c}.dlBKBu a:hover::after{color:#222}.dlBKBu a::after{margin-right:4px;margin-left:4px;content:'>'}.dlBKBu a:last-child::after{display:none}.azcVx{margin:0 0 20px;letter-spacing:0}.VFZbw{margin:0;color:#646464;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.VFZbw{font:normal 18px/22px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.VFZbw{font:normal 20px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.VFZbw p{font:inherit}.article-feature .VFZbw a{font-weight:bold}.fKNoab{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto;background:#fff}@media(min-width:1000px){.fKNoab{padding:0 16px}.parallax .fKNoab{max-width:1240px}}.bJjAgi{font:bold 32px/36px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0156em}@media(min-width:768px){.bJjAgi{font:bold 44px/48px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0113em}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bJjAgi{font:bold 54px/58px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0092em}}.dufPYg .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0 12px}@media(min-width:768px){.dufPYg .sc-qvufca-0{max-width:968px;margin-right:16px;margin-left:16px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.dufPYg .sc-qvufca-0{margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto}}.dufPYg .sc-qvufca-2{margin-bottom:16px;color:#222}@media(min-width:768px){.dufPYg .sc-qvufca-2{margin-bottom:18px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.dufPYg .sc-qvufca-2{margin-top:0}}.article-feature .dufPYg .sc-qvufca-2{text-align:center}@media(min-width:1000px){.article-feature .dufPYg .sc-qvufca-2{max-width:968px}}.dufPYg .sc-aeekvc-0{margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:1000px){.dufPYg .sc-aeekvc-0{max-width:968px}}.dufPYg .sc-aeekvc-0 p{margin-top:0}@media(min-width:768px){.dufPYg .sc-aeekvc-0 p{margin-bottom:16px}}@media(min-width:2560px){.dufPYg .sc-aeekvc-0 p{margin-bottom:12px}}.dyGKzS{--bleed:12px;display:flex;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:row;gap:32px;padding:16px var(--bleed);background-color:#fff}.article-liveblog .dyGKzS{background-color:#f7f7f7}@media(min-width:768px){.dyGKzS{--bleed:0;max-width:1000px;margin:0 auto}}@media(min-width:1000px){.dyGKzS{--bleed:16px;max-width:1000px;padding:var(--bleed)}}.gIldS{overflow:hidden;height:0;color:transparent}.kFPmfF{max-width:100%;margin:0 0 20px}.kFPmfF.sticky{position:sticky;top:16px}.iaRZct{min-height:600px}.iaRZct #mpu1{position:sticky;top:16px}.bFiDnI{min-height:250px}.jAzEot{max-width:100%}.eDScvc{margin:0 0 6px;color:#646464;font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:15px}.CmSgF{margin:0 0 12px}.lbFVDq{height:380px}.bsSHYO{width:100%;height:51px}.bjKtIv{margin-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #919191}.jLzsCV{margin-bottom:16px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']{position:relative;margin-bottom:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3}.jLzsCV [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0{display:flex;position:absolute;bottom:16px;left:10px;width:32px;height:32px;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border-radius:50%;background-color:#ec1a2e}.jLzsCV [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0>svg{width:90%;fill:#fff;stroke:transparent}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child{display:block;padding-bottom:0;margin-bottom:12px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child .sc-u4n1j-0{top:-15px;bottom:auto;left:12px;width:35px;height:35px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child>*:first-child{display:block;width:100%;height:205px}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;padding:28px 12px 12px;background:linear-gradient(to top,#222 50%,rgba(34,34,34,0.9) 100%) no-repeat;color:#fff;font-size:17px;font-weight:bold}.jLzsCV [role='listitem']:last-child{margin-bottom:0;border-bottom:0 none}.kNZMQb{min-height:1924px}@media(max-width:767px){.kNZMQb{display:none}}.iFeFcz{width:308px}.iFeFcz.hidden{display:none}@media(max-width:999px){.iFeFcz{display:none}}.article-liveblog .fbWdwj{background-color:#f7f7f7}.eFgmkR{justify-content:center}.cvujVr{justify-content:center}
Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Not now Yes please
News UK UK Politics Billionaire gives Tories their largest donation in 20 years Mohamed Mansour says he wants to help Rishi Sunak get ‘full five-year term’
Adam Forrest Political Correspondent
Monday 22 May 2023 17:06 BST
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe Already subscribed? Log in (USA TODAY Sports via Reuters)
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference. Close Read more The Conservatives have received their largest donation in more than two decades from an Egyptian-born billionaire.
Former politician Mohamed Mansour has revealed he has handed Rishi Sunak ’s party £5m – helping to turn round a slump in Tory donations.
It follows the defection of ex-Tory donors to Labour , including entrepreneur Gareth Quarry, who has accused the Tories of making Britain “a laughing stock”.
But Mr Mansour, a senior treasurer of the Tory party, said he believed Mr Sunak could get the economy growing again and described the prime minister as “very capable”.
Writing in the Telegraph , the British-based businessman says the PM “understands how growth is generated in the modern economy” and “gets the importance of innovation”.
Mr Mansour – a former minister under the Hosni Mubarak government in Egypt – stated: “I want to give [Mr Sunak] the best chance of having a full five-year term and so have donated £5m to the party’s election fighting fund.”
“I look at what he has achieved in his first months in office and think what he could do in five years,” added the billionaire chair of the Mansour Group conglomerate.
Mr Mansour was transport minister from 2006 to 2009 under Mubarak, the president who quit during the Arab Spring revolt of 2011. He is also co-owner of a new football team in San Diego, the latest franchise given the right to play in the US Major League Soccer (MLS).
In December, Electoral Commission figures showed that Labour was taking in more donations than the Tories were for the first time in a year. Mr Sunak’s party slumped to £3m for the quarter, while Labour was handed £5.4m for the same period.
Labour received a major boost in February when David Sainsbury, the former supermarket chair who withdrew support during the Jeremy Corbyn era, provided £2m.
Previous analysis by The Independent showed that Labour increased its donations from wealthy individuals by a significant amount during 2022, while the Tory party has seen a slump in support from rich backers.
Labour raked in more than £2.8m from individual donors last year – up £1.3m from the previous year, according to Electoral Commission data.
The Tories still boast more wealthy supporters than the opposition, but donations from individuals fell by £1.6m to £11.3m last year amid the turmoil overseen by Mr Johnson and Liz Truss.
Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments