Michael Heller
Property businessman and philanthropist; vice chairman of Conservative Friends of Israel; chairman of London & Associated Properties; died January 2023
| Sir Michael Heller
| |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Property businessman; philanthropist |
| Known for | Vice chairman of Conservative Friends of Israel; chairman of London & Associated Properties PLC; board member of the Centre for Policy Studies |
Sir Michael Heller was a property businessman and philanthropist who was a vice chairman of Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI) and a long-serving board member of the Centre for Policy Studies. He died in January 2023.[1][2]
Business
- Jewish News described him as the chairman of the property firm London & Associated Properties PLC.[1] Companies House lists "Michael Aron Heller, Sir" as a director of London & Associated Properties PLC (00341829) until 30 January 2023.[3]
- The Daily Telegraph reported in December 2012 that he had "made a fortune through KP Nuts and commercial property".[4]
Conservative Friends of Israel
- An Internet Archive capture of the Conservative Friends of Israel website from August 2011 lists "Betty Geller, Stanley Cohen OBE, Michael Heller" as the organisation's vice chairmen.[5]
- The Telegraph (December 2012) called him "a vice chairman of the Conservative Friends of Israel";[4] Jewish News and the Centre for Policy Studies described him after his death as a former deputy chairman of CFI.[1][2]
Centre for Policy Studies
The Centre for Policy Studies said that he served on its board for 25 years.[2] Jewish News described the CPS as "a centre-right think tank".[1]
Honours and philanthropy
- The 2013 New Year Honours knighthood, reported on 29 December 2012, was "for his philanthropic work in education and the arts" according to the Telegraph; Jewish News said he was knighted in 2013 for charitable service.[4][1]
- Jewish News reported that the Michael & Morven Heller charitable foundation was founded in 1988 "to support the arts, education and medicine", that he donated ambulances and mobile intensive care units to Magen David Adom, was a patron of the Jewish Museum and supported the education network ORT.[1]
Political donations
The Telegraph reported in December 2012 that he, "along with his companies", had donated "more than £100,000" to the Conservative Party. It noted that he "did not return requests for comment".[4]
The Electoral Commission's register, which starts in 2001, records five donations under the names "Michael Heller", "Mr Michael A Heller" and "Mr Michael A. Heller".[6] Companies House gives the middle name of the London & Associated Properties director as Aron, which matches the initial "A" in two of the entries;[3] the three entries without an initial carry the same name and are not independently tied to him by the register, which does not record donors' occupations. The register does not record the donations by his companies that the Telegraph referred to, and no total for them is given here.
| Date | Recipient (as recorded by the Commission) | Amount | Type | EC reference | Donor name as recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 May 2001 | Conservative and Unionist Party (Central Party) | £10,000 | Cash | C0000999 | Mr Michael A Heller |
| 1 August 2001 | The Rt Hon Michael Portillo MP | £2,500 | Cash | C0000114 | Mr Michael A. Heller |
| 1 November 2002 | Conservative and Unionist Party (Central Party) | £10,000 | Cash | C0004175 | Mr Michael Heller |
| 12 December 2003 | Conservative and Unionist Party (Central Party) | £10,000 | Cash | C0005593 | Mr Michael Heller |
| 7 April 2006 | The Rt Hon William Hague MP | £5,000 | Cash | C0003106 | Mr Michael Heller |
The two entries with the initial "A" total £12,500; the three without an initial total £25,000; together £37,500.
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Michelle Rosenberg, Jewish News, 'Passionate philanthropist' and business leader Sir Michael Heller passes away, aged 86, 31 January 2023, accessed 11 November 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Centre for Policy Studies, Sir Michael Heller, 1 February 2023, accessed 11 November 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Companies House, London & Associated Properties PLC (00341829): overview and officers, accessed 11 November 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Rowena Mason, The Daily Telegraph, New Year Honours List 2013: Tory donors get gongs, 29 December 2012, accessed 11 November 2026.
- ↑ Conservative Friends of Israel, About CFI (Internet Archive capture of 9 August 2011), accessed 11 November 2026.
- ↑ Electoral Commission, Donations and loans search: donor names "Michael Heller", "Michael A Heller" and "Michael A. Heller", records read on 11 November 2026 through the Commission's CSV export of the same search, accessed 11 November 2026.