Rich individuals have been signing big personalcheques over to the Conservative Party, latestfigures from the political watchdog, the Electoral

Commission, show.

Ninety eight individuals handed over a total of £2,541,145 to ConservativeCentral Office (CCO) in the third quarter of 2009, a Fact Service analysis

of commission figures show.

Donations from rich individuals accounted for 48pence in every £1 received by  CCO in the third quarter of the year. In total, CCO received £5.3 million from all sources in the quarter.  City money dominated with £252,000 given by hedge fund manager Michael Farmer. Property magnates David Rowland and Chaim Poju Zabludowicz gave £140,000 and £100,000 respectively.

Thirty-eight companies gave a total of £1,169,067 or 22 pence in every £1 received. IM Properties, part of long-time Tory supporter Robert Edmiston’s business empire, gave £250,000 and the construction equipment dynasty, the Bamfords, gave £130,000 through their JCB Research company.

Once again it was the taxpayer who helped out considerably to the party’s fortunes. Three tranches of public money totalled £1,283,884 or 24 pence in

every £1 received by CCO. The money came mainly through the so-called “Short money” and “Cranborne money” from the Houses of Commons and Lords

respectively, which is public money to help the opposition parties in Parliament.

There were two donations from Conservative Party lotteries which came to £314,500.

For Labour Party headquarters, the unions were by far the largest provider of income with 12 unions giving a total of £2,154,574 (see table). That sum, which

included affiliation fees, donations and sponsorship, accounted for 90 pence in every £1 received at the party's Victoria Street HQ. In total £2.4 million was received by the party from all sources.