Michael Anthony Ashcroft - Revision history

Olivia Rendall at 08:26, 21 April 2015

2015-04-21T08:26:59Z

Melissa Jones at 03:19, 21 April 2015

2015-04-21T03:19:38Z

Melissa Jones: tweak

2015-04-21T03:17:55Z

tweak

Olivia Rendall at 16:02, 17 April 2015

2015-04-17T16:02:24Z

Josh Leeson at 16:30, 25 February 2015

2015-02-25T16:30:04Z

Josh Leeson at 16:28, 25 February 2015

2015-02-25T16:28:59Z

Josh Leeson at 12:04, 25 February 2015

2015-02-25T12:04:11Z

Melissa Jones: update new govt position

2012-11-19T04:02:43Z

update new govt position

Melissa Jones: /* Australian politics */ typo

2012-11-19T03:58:33Z

Australian politics: typo

Melissa Jones: cat

2012-10-18T15:48:26Z

cat

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 In June 2006, he increased his stake in [[Corporate Services Group]] to 28.5%, prompting speculation that he might make an offer for the remaining shares in the company.  Ashcroft attempted a takeover of Corporate Services Group in 1999.
-As of March 2006 he became the major shareholder in English professional football club Watford F.C., owning up to 42% of the clubs shares.<ref>BBC Sports News, 14th March 2006 [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/watford/4805978.stm Billionaire to own 42% of Watford], accessed 14th March 2006</ref>
+As of March 2006 he became the major shareholder in English professional football club Watford F.C., owning up to 42% of the clubs shares.<ref> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/watford/4805978.stm Billionaire to own 42% of Watford] ''BBC Sports News'', 14th March 2006, accessed 14th March 2006</ref>
 In September 2006, he accepted a bid for [[British Car Auctions]] (BCA) worth £450m, netting him a personal gain of £200m.
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 He is also known for his collection of [[Victoria Crosses]], which is reputed to contain about 142, which would probably be the largest private collection of VCs ever assembled.
-In 2007 his healthcare investment firm [[Global Health Partners]] "took a 33.8 per cent stake in the private mental healthcare group", the Priory.<ref>[http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/health/article2788863.ece Lord Ashcroft acquires 34% stake in The Priory], The Times, Nov 2 2007, accessed 2 Mar 2010</ref> The Priory specialises in the rehabilitation of addicts.
+In 2007 his healthcare investment firm [[Global Health Partners]] "took a 33.8 per cent stake in the private mental healthcare group", the Priory.<ref>[http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/health/article2788863.ece Lord Ashcroft acquires 34% stake in The Priory], ''The Times'', Nov 2 2007, accessed 2 Mar 2010</ref> The Priory specialises in the rehabilitation of addicts.
 ==British politics==
 In the UK, he was a major donor to and Treasurer of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] from 1998 to 2001, under [[William Hague]]. His tenure was marked by a number of controversies: he was seen to pay little UK [[income tax]] due to his domicile in Belize; he gained overseas donations for the Party which some thought inappropriate; and he was at the centre of a debate about openness and accountability of political funding.
-Unsubstantiated speculation about his business affairs was concluded when he pursued a libel action against ''[[The Times]]''. This was settled on [[9 December]], [[1999]], when ''[[The Times]]'' issued a statement that "[...] Litigation between the parties has been settled to mutual satisfaction, with each side bearing its own costs." {{ref|2}}
+Unsubstantiated speculation about his business affairs was concluded when he pursued a libel action against ''[[The Times]]''. This was settled on [[9 December]], [[1999]], when ''[[The Times]]'' issued a statement that "[...] Litigation between the parties has been settled to mutual satisfaction, with each side bearing its own costs." <ref> Kevin Maguire, Nick Hopkins and Paul Murphy [http://www.guardian.co.uk/ashcroft/story/0,7369,500043,00.html Dramatic end to Ashcroft and Times libel battle] ''The Guardian'', 9 December 1999, Accessed 12 March 2006
 In 2004 Ashcroft clashed with Conservative leader [[Michael Howard]] when he offered a £2m donation on the condition that it should go to his specified candidates, rather than into general Conservative Central Office funds.
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 During the "[[Cash for Peerages]]" controversy, on 31 March 2006 he was named by the Conservative Party as having loaned it £3.6m.
-He is a member of [[The Leader's Group]], an elite [[Conservative Party]] supporter group which enables donors to secure access to leading party members and the prime minister through an annual membership fee of £50,000.<ref> Conservative Party, [https://www.conservatives.com/~/media/lg%20meals%20q3%202014%20final.ashx The Leader's Group guests 2014 quarter 3], accessed 25 February 2015 </ref>
+He is a member of [[The Leader's Group]], an elite [[Conservative Party]] supporter group which enables donors to secure access to leading party members and the prime minister through an annual membership fee of £50,000.<ref> [https://www.conservatives.com/~/media/lg%20meals%20q3%202014%20final.ashx The Leader's Group guests 2014 quarter 3] ''Conservative Party'', accessed 25 February 2015 </ref>
 ===Honours===
-In March 2000, Ashcroft was appointed as a life peer with the title '''Baron Ashcroft''', of Chichester in the County of West Sussex. His appointment to the [[House of Lords]] was controversial at the time, particularly because of his business and political interests in Belize. He was nominated by Conservative party leader [[William Hague]] on the condition that he became a UK resident. Ashcroft then announced that he intended to take the title "Baron Ashcroft of Belize", a suggestion that infuriated his political opponents. He later claimed this had been a joke, and his title was created as simply Baron Ashcroft of Chichester {{ref|4}}.  In June 2000 he was appointed KCMG for public service to the community and country of Belize.
+In March 2000, Ashcroft was appointed as a life peer with the title '''Baron Ashcroft''', of Chichester in the County of West Sussex. His appointment to the [[House of Lords]] was controversial at the time, particularly because of his business and political interests in Belize. He was nominated by Conservative party leader [[William Hague]] on the condition that he became a UK resident. Ashcroft then announced that he intended to take the title "Baron Ashcroft of Belize", a suggestion that infuriated his political opponents. He later claimed this had been a joke, and his title was created as simply Baron Ashcroft of Chichester. <ref> Rob Evans, David Hencke, and David Pallister [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foi/story/0,,1400987,00.html US raises crime fears in Ashcroft tax haven | Special Reports] ''The Guardian'', 4 June 2001, accessed 21 April 2015 </ref> In June 2000 he was appointed KCMG for public service to the community and country of Belize.
 == Australian politics ==
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 :US state department and drug enforcement administration (DEA) documents obtained by the Guardian disclose that the US government fears that Belize's secretive tax haven "created to provide tax shelters for companies owned by Ashcroft" is being easily exploited by money launderers and fraudsters... They warn that continued lack of controls may make Belize "an inviting target" for drug traffickers seeking to hide their profits. In one report last year, Washington noted concern over the increase "in the number of individuals found bringing large amounts of currency into the country in briefcases or concealed under clothing"... Another DEA report in 1999 records intelligence that the quantity of US cash flowing into Belize had "increased dramatically"... A previous report describes the Ashcroft-inspired offshore legislation as "a mechanism whereby illicit activities could be disguised", giving "drug traffickers freedom in establishment of companies ... to conceal or transfer drug proceeds ... money launderers never have to leave the safety of their own countries".
 The report further points out:
-:The disclosures reignite the question of Lord Ashcroft's suitability to sit in the House of Lords, where the Tory leader [[William Hague]] promoted him. But yesterday [[Lord Ashcroft]]'s spokesman, [[Alan Kilkenny]], said money laundering in Belize did not occur on a wide scale: "Why pick on Belize?"{{ref|3}}
+:The disclosures reignite the question of Lord Ashcroft's suitability to sit in the House of Lords, where the Tory leader [[William Hague]] promoted him. But yesterday [[Lord Ashcroft]]'s spokesman, [[Alan Kilkenny]], said money laundering in Belize did not occur on a wide scale: "Why pick on Belize?" <ref> [http://fadar.aec.gov.au/Returns/7/D6976.pdf Donor to Political Parties Annual Return] ''AEC'', accessed 21 April 2015 </ref>
 ==PR agents==
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 ==Notes==
 <references/>
 [[Category:Conservative Party Donors|Ashcroft, Michael Anthony]][[Category:Tax avoidance|Ashcroft, Michael Anthony]][[Category:Pollsters|Ashcroft, Michael Anthony]]

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 ==References==
 <references/>
-[[Category:Conservative Party Donors|Ashcroft, Michael Anthony]][[Category:Tax avoidance|Ashcroft, Michael Anthony]]
+[[Category:Conservative Party Donors|Ashcroft, Michael Anthony]][[Category:Tax avoidance|Ashcroft, Michael Anthony]][[Category:Pollsters|Ashcroft, Michael Anthony]]

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 '''Michael Anthony Ashcroft, Baron Ashcroft''', KCMG (born 4 March 1946) is a wealthy British businessman and Conservative politician and party donor who has been a member of the [[House of Lords]] since 2000. He also holds Belize nationality. In September 2012 he was appointed as the UK Prime Minister’s new “special representative for veterans’ transition”. <ref> Christopher Hope, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9523901/David-Cameron-made-three-ministers-cry-when-he-sacked-them.html Tory donor Lord Ashcroft is given job in Government by David Cameron], ''The Telegraph'',  05 Sep 2012 7:45PM BST, acc 19 November 2012 </ref>
-In March 2015 Ashcroft resigned from the [[House of Lords]], the decision being made so that he could pursue his interests outside of politics. Ashcroft has chosen to concentrate his attentions on a career as a pollster and political publisher. <ref> Rajeev Syal and Nicholas Watt, [http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/31/lord-ashcroft-resigns-from-house-of-lords-to-focus-on-polling-and-publishing Lord Ashcroft resigns from House of Lords to focus on polling and publishing] ''The Guardian'', 31 March 2015, accessed 17 April 2015 </ref>
+In March 2015 Ashcroft resigned from the [[House of Lords]] to pursue his interests outside of politics. Ashcroft has chosen to concentrate his attentions on a career as a pollster and political publisher. <ref> Rajeev Syal and Nicholas Watt, [http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/31/lord-ashcroft-resigns-from-house-of-lords-to-focus-on-polling-and-publishing Lord Ashcroft resigns from House of Lords to focus on polling and publishing] ''The Guardian'', 31 March 2015, accessed 17 April 2015 </ref>
 ==Biography==
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 Michael Ashcroft has other business connections with Belize, and was appointed as the Belize government's Permanent Representative to the [[United Nations]] up to April 2000. He has made large donations to the [[People's United Party]] of Belize.
-He also has significant interests in the following companies quoted on the [[Alternative Investment Market]]: [[Wraith]], [[Mavinwood]], [[Carlisle]], [[OneSource]], [[Corporate Services Group]], Watford, London Town, [[Digital Marketing]], [[Global Health]].
+He also has significant interests in the following companies quoted on the [[Alternative Investment Market]]: [[Wraith]], [[Mavinwood]], [[Carlisle]], [[OneSource]], [[Corporate Services Group]], Watford, [[London Town]], [[Digital Marketing]], [[Global Health]].
 In June 2006, he increased his stake in [[Corporate Services Group]] to 28.5%, prompting speculation that he might make an offer for the remaining shares in the company.  Ashcroft attempted a takeover of Corporate Services Group in 1999.
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 In September 2006, he accepted a bid for [[British Car Auctions]] (BCA) worth £450m, netting him a personal gain of £200m.
-He has been Chancellor of [[Anglia Polytechnic University]] since November 2001, and has donated £5 million for the university's business school at [[Chelmsford]], now called Ashcroft International Business School.
+He has been chancellor of [[Anglia Polytechnic University]] since November 2001, and has donated £5 million for the university's business school at [[Chelmsford]], now called Ashcroft International Business School.
-He is Chairman of UK charity [[Crimestoppers]].
+He is chairman of UK charity [[Crimestoppers]].
 He ranked 66th in the [[Sunday Times Rich List 2006]], with an estimated personal wealth of £820m.
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 Unsubstantiated speculation about his business affairs was concluded when he pursued a libel action against ''[[The Times]]''. This was settled on [[9 December]], [[1999]], when ''[[The Times]]'' issued a statement that "[...] Litigation between the parties has been settled to mutual satisfaction, with each side bearing its own costs." {{ref|2}}
-In 2004 he clashed with Conservative leader [[Michael Howard]] when he offered a £2m donation on the condition that it should go to his specified candidates, rather than into general Conservative Central Office funds.
 ===Conservative Party loans and donations===

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 [[File:Lord Ashcroft.png|right|thumb|350px|Lord Ashcroft speaking to Sky News in January 2015]]
 '''Michael Anthony Ashcroft, Baron Ashcroft''', KCMG (born 4 March 1946) is a wealthy British businessman and Conservative politician and party donor who has been a member of the [[House of Lords]] since 2000. He also holds Belize nationality. In September 2012 he was appointed as the UK Prime Minister’s new “special representative for veterans’ transition”. <ref> Christopher Hope, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9523901/David-Cameron-made-three-ministers-cry-when-he-sacked-them.html Tory donor Lord Ashcroft is given job in Government by David Cameron], ''The Telegraph'',  05 Sep 2012 7:45PM BST, acc 19 November 2012 </ref>
 ==Biography==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[File:Lord Ashcroft.png|right|thumb|350px|Lord Ashcroft speaking to Sky News in January 2015]]
-'''Michael Anthony Ashcroft, Baron Ashcroft''', [[KCMG]] (born 4 March 1946) is a wealthy British businessman and Conservative politician and party donor who has been a member of the [[House of Lords]] since 2000. He also holds Belize nationality. In September 2012 he was appointed as the UK Prime Minister’s new “special representative for veterans’ transition”. <ref> Christopher Hope, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9523901/David-Cameron-made-three-ministers-cry-when-he-sacked-them.html Tory donor Lord Ashcroft is given job in Government by David Cameron], ''The Telegraph'',  05 Sep 2012 7:45PM BST, acc 19 November 2012 </ref>
+'''Michael Anthony Ashcroft, Baron Ashcroft''', KCMG (born 4 March 1946) is a wealthy British businessman and Conservative politician and party donor who has been a member of the [[House of Lords]] since 2000. He also holds Belize nationality. In September 2012 he was appointed as the UK Prime Minister’s new “special representative for veterans’ transition”. <ref> Christopher Hope, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9523901/David-Cameron-made-three-ministers-cry-when-he-sacked-them.html Tory donor Lord Ashcroft is given job in Government by David Cameron], ''The Telegraph'',  05 Sep 2012 7:45PM BST, acc 19 November 2012 </ref>
 ==Biography==

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:28, 25 February 2015
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		+	[[File:Lord Ashcroft.png\|right\|thumb\|350px\|Lord Ashcroft speaking to Sky News in January 2015]]
	'''Michael Anthony Ashcroft, Baron Ashcroft''', [[KCMG]] (born 4 March 1946) is a wealthy British businessman and Conservative politician and party donor who has been a member of the [[House of Lords]] since 2000. He also holds Belize nationality. In September 2012 he was appointed as the UK Prime Minister’s new “special representative for veterans’ transition”. <ref> Christopher Hope, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9523901/David-Cameron-made-three-ministers-cry-when-he-sacked-them.html Tory donor Lord Ashcroft is given job in Government by David Cameron], ''The Telegraph'', 05 Sep 2012 7:45PM BST, acc 19 November 2012 </ref>		'''Michael Anthony Ashcroft, Baron Ashcroft''', [[KCMG]] (born 4 March 1946) is a wealthy British businessman and Conservative politician and party donor who has been a member of the [[House of Lords]] since 2000. He also holds Belize nationality. In September 2012 he was appointed as the UK Prime Minister’s new “special representative for veterans’ transition”. <ref> Christopher Hope, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9523901/David-Cameron-made-three-ministers-cry-when-he-sacked-them.html Tory donor Lord Ashcroft is given job in Government by David Cameron], ''The Telegraph'', 05 Sep 2012 7:45PM BST, acc 19 November 2012 </ref>

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:02, 19 November 2012
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−	'''Michael Anthony Ashcroft, Baron Ashcroft''', [[KCMG]] (born 4 March 1946) is a British businessman and Conservative politician who has been a member of the [[House of Lords]] since 2000. He also holds Belize nationality.	+	'''Michael Anthony Ashcroft, Baron Ashcroft''', [[KCMG]] (born 4 March 1946) is a wealthy British businessman and Conservative politician and party donor who has been a member of the [[House of Lords]] since 2000. He also holds Belize nationality. In September 2012 he was appointed as the UK Prime Minister’s new “special representative for veterans’ transition”. <ref> Christopher Hope, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9523901/David-Cameron-made-three-ministers-cry-when-he-sacked-them.html Tory donor Lord Ashcroft is given job in Government by David Cameron], ''The Telegraph'', 05 Sep 2012 7:45PM BST, acc 19 November 2012 </ref>

	==Biography==		==Biography==

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 == Australian politics ==
-Lord Ashcroft has become a significant figure in Australian politics having been identified as the single largest individual donor to any Australian political party during the Financial Year 2004/2005. The [[Australian Electoral Commission]] reported in February 2006 that Ashcroft (who gave his address as "House of Lords, Westminster, London") had donated $1,000,000 to the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]] in September 2004 just before the 2004 Federal election. It was the biggest single disclosed private donation in Australian political history
+Lord Ashcroft has become a significant figure in Australian politics having been identified as the single largest individual donor to any Australian political party during the Financial Year 2004/2005. The [[Australian Electoral Commission]] reported in February 2006 that Ashcroft (who gave his address as "House of Lords, Westminster, London") had donated $1,000,000 to the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]] in September 2004 just before the 2004 Federal election. It was the biggest single disclosed private donation in Australian political history.
 ==U.S. DEA leak scandal==