Difference between revisions of "Howard Leigh, Baron Leigh of Hurley"

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{{short description|'''Conservative peer, party treasurer, corporate financier and Israel advocate'''}}
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{{Infobox person
 +
| name          = Howard Leigh, Baron Leigh of Hurley
 +
| birth_name    = Howard Darryl Leigh
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| birth_date    = April 1959
 +
| nationality  = British
 +
| occupation    = Corporate financier; Conservative peer
 +
| known_for    = Senior Partner, [[Cavendish Corporate Finance]]; Senior Treasurer, [[Conservative Party]]; [[Conservative Friends of Israel]]
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| title        = Baron Leigh of Hurley
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| party        = [[Conservative Party]]
 +
}}
 
{{Template:Revolving Door badge}}
 
{{Template:Revolving Door badge}}
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'''Howard Leigh''' is a senior partner in [[Cavendish Corporate Finance]]<ref>[http://www.cavendish.com/our-people/howard-leigh Howard Leigh], Cavendish Corporate Finance, accessed 8 September 2012.</ref>, the former Treasurer of the UK [[Conservative Party]]<ref>Martin Bright, [http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/56577/tories-solicited-cash-werritty Tories solicited cash for Werritty], TheJC.com, 18 October 2011</ref> and a [[Conservative]] peer in the House of Lords, having joined on the 16 September 2013. <ref name="peer"> [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/working-peerages-announced Working peerages announced], Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street, press release, 1 August 2013 </ref>  
+
'''[[Howard Darryl Leigh, Baron Leigh of Hurley]]''' (born April 1959) is a British corporate financier, Conservative life peer and long-serving party fundraiser. He co-founded [[Cavendish Corporate Finance]] in 1988 and remains its senior partner. He has been a treasurer of the [[Conservative Party]] since 2000 and senior treasurer since 2010.<ref name="JLC">Jewish Leadership Council, [https://www.thejlc.org/rt-hon-lord-leigh-of-hurley Rt. Hon Lord Leigh of Hurley] ''The Jewish Leadership Council'', accessed 9 September 2026.</ref><ref name="Cavendish">Cavendish, [https://www.cavendish.com/people/lord-leigh-of-hurley/ Lord Leigh of Hurley] ''Cavendish'', accessed 9 September 2026.</ref>
 +
 
 +
He was created a life peer on 16 September 2013 as Baron Leigh of Hurley, of Hurley in the Royal County of Berkshire, and sits on the Conservative benches in the [[House of Lords]].<ref name="GOV2013">Prime Minister's Office, [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/working-peerages-announced Working peerages announced] ''GOV.UK'', 1 August 2013.</ref><ref name="ParlCareer">UK Parliament, [https://members.parliament.uk/member/4295/career Parliamentary career for Lord Leigh of Hurley] ''Parliament.uk'', accessed 9 September 2026.</ref> He speaks in the Lords on business, tax, trade, the Jewish community and Israel, and has chaired the Finance Bill select committee.<ref name="JLC" />
 +
 
 +
Leigh is chairman of [[Jerusalem Foundation]] UK, president of [[Westminster Synagogue]], president of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]], a vice-president of the [[Jewish Leadership Council]], a member of the advisory board of [[Conservative Friends of Israel]], and has sat on the board of [[BICOM]]. He chaired [[Jewish Care]]’s business breakfasts for 25 years.<ref name="JLC" /><ref name="JN2025">Candice Krieger, [https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/25-years-of-serving-up-business-titans-over-breakfast/ 25 years of serving up business titans over breakfast] ''Jewish News'', 18 December 2025.</ref>
 +
 
 +
==Background and education==
 +
 
 +
Leigh was educated at [[Lyndhurst Preparatory]] (1967–1972), [[Clifton College]], Bristol (1972–1976), and the [[University of Southampton]], where he read economics from 1977 to 1980. He qualified as a chartered accountant with [[Deloitte Haskins & Sells]] and further qualified with the [[Chartered Institute of Taxation]]. In 1986 he established [[Deloitte]]’s mergers and acquisitions group before leaving in May 1988 with [[Hugo Haddon-Grant]] to found [[Cavendish Corporate Finance]].<ref name="CavendishArch">Cavendish, [https://web.archive.org/web/20140724150833/http://www.cavendish.com/our-people/howard-leigh Howard Leigh] ''Cavendish Corporate Finance'' (archived 24 July 2014).</ref><ref name="Indy1999">The Independent, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/me-and-my-partner-howard-leigh-and-hugo-haddongrant-1078037.html Me And My Partner: Howard Leigh and Hugo Haddon-Grant] ''The Independent'', 3 March 1999.</ref>
 +
 
 +
He chaired the Faculty of Corporate Finance at the [[Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales]] and in 2008 received its Outstanding Achievement in Corporate Finance award. He has served as an alternate to the ICAEW president on the [[Takeover Panel]].<ref name="CavendishArch" />
 +
 
 +
==Business==
  
−
==Leader's Group==
+
[[Cavendish Corporate Finance]] specialised in sell-side advice to owners of mid-market businesses and, according to the [[Jewish Leadership Council]], has acted in more than 700 transactions. In December 2018 Cavendish merged with AIM-listed [[finnCap Group plc]]. After a further merger with [[Cenkos]] in September 2023 the listed vehicle became [[Cavendish Financial plc]] (now [[Cavendish plc]]). Leigh was a director of [[Cavendish plc]] from 28 November 2018 to 18 November 2020. He ceased to be a person with significant control of [[Cavendish Corporate Finance LLP]] on 5 December 2018, when [[Cavendish plc]] took that role.<ref name="JLC" /><ref name="CHLeigh">Companies House, [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/lAFJXrAw3gecULf0JIhELtV4ifI/appointments Howard Darryl LEIGH personal appointments] ''Companies House'', accessed 9 September 2026.</ref><ref name="CHCavPSC">Companies House, [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/OC333044/persons-with-significant-control CAVENDISH CORPORATE FINANCE LLP persons with significant control] ''Companies House'', accessed 9 September 2026.</ref>
  
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Leigh is chairman of [[The Leader's Group]], a Tory fundraising vehicle whereby anyone donating £50,000 plus is automatically 'invited to join David Cameron and other senior figures from the Conservative Party at dinners, post-PMQ lunches, drinks receptions, election result events and important campaign launches'. <ref> [http://www.conservatives.com/Donate/Donor_Clubs.aspx Donor Clubs], Conservative Party website, accessed 2 April 2012 </ref>
+
In September 2021 he became non-executive chairman of [[Manolete Partners plc]], an insolvency litigation financier. Companies House records the directorship from 23 June 2021.<ref name="JLC" /><ref name="CHLeigh" /> His parliamentary register records that a PA employed by [[Cavendish Corporate Finance]] supports his Lords work.<ref name="RoI">UK Parliament, [https://members.parliament.uk/member/4295/registeredinterests Register of Interests for Lord Leigh of Hurley] ''Parliament.uk'', accessed 9 September 2026.</ref>
  
−
==Dinner at Chequers==
+
The family property companies, including [[Dependable Investments Limited]] and managing agent [[Dennis Reed Limited]], control freeholds and management in north-west London. In May 2022 ''The Times'' reported that a property tribunal had found commission of 67 per cent on buildings insurance at a Harrow development “excessive” and capped the charge. Leigh said the companies had “acted at all times within the terms and spirit of the appropriate laws and regulations, and indeed market practice.”<ref name="Times2022">Andrew Ellson, [https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/lord-leigh-of-hurley-accused-of-greed-over-excessive-leaseholder-fees-sm85ngrq0 Lord Leigh of Hurley accused of greed over ‘excessive’ leaseholder fees] ''The Times'', 23 May 2022.</ref>
−
See [[Chequers Dinner Guest List]] released March 2012
 
  
 
==Directorships==
 
==Directorships==
−
*Designated LLP Member, [[Cavendish Capital Advisors]] LLP
 
−
*Director, [[Cavendish Corporate Finance]] (UK) Limited
 
−
*Director, [[Cavendish Corporate Investments]] Limited
 
−
*Director, [[City and Suburban Investments]] Limited
 
−
*Director, [[Craig & Company]] (Properties) Limited
 
−
*Director and Company Secretary, [[Dennis Reed]] Limited
 
−
*Director and Company Secretary, [[Dependable Homes]] Limited
 
−
*Director and Company Secretary, [[Dependable Investments]] Limited
 
−
*Director, [[Dependable Properties]] Limited
 
−
*Director, [[Station Court (Wembley) Management Company]] Limited
 
−
*Director, [[Marlow Retail]] Ltd (fashion retail)<ref> [http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-leigh-of-hurley/4295 Lord Leigh of Hurley] ''Parliament.UK'', accessed 19 December 2014 </ref>
 
  
−
==Affiliations==
+
Companies House splits Leigh across more than one officer record. The Lords register and commercial compilations give the fuller working list of family property and finance vehicles. Current remunerated posts declared to Parliament are shown first.<ref name="RoI" /><ref name="CHLeigh" /><ref name="CheckCo">Check Company, [https://www.checkcompany.co.uk/director/1933140/LORD-HOWARD-DARRYL-LEIGH HOWARD DARRYL LEIGH - LONDON] ''Check Company'', accessed 2026.</ref>
−
*Former Chairman and current President of [[Westminster Synagogue]]
+
 
−
*Former Trustee of [[Jewish Care]] and current Chairman of [[Jewish Care’s Business Group]]
+
{| class="wikitable sortable"
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*Appointed chairman of the [[Jerusalem Foundation]] in the UK in January 2016, formerly a trustee<ref name="peer"/><ref>Marcus Dysch, [http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/152694/the-peer-raising-millions-jerusalem The peer raising millions for Jerusalem], The Jewish Chronicle, 25 January 2016</ref>
+
|+ Current and recent company roles
 +
! Company !! Number !! Role !! Appointed !! Status
 +
|-
 +
| [[Manolete Partners plc]] || 07660874 || Director / chairman || 23 June 2021 || Active
 +
|-
 +
| [[Jerusalem Foundation Trustees Limited]] || 06174036 || Director || 20 March 2007 || Active
 +
|-
 +
| [[City and Suburban Investments Limited]] || — || Director || (declared) || Active (Lords register)
 +
|-
 +
| [[Craig & Company (Properties) Limited]] || — || Director || 7 March 2012 || Active
 +
|-
 +
| [[Dennis Reed Limited]] || — || Director and company secretary || (declared) || Active
 +
|-
 +
| [[Dependable Homes Limited]] || — || Director and company secretary || (declared) || Active
 +
|-
 +
| [[Dependable Investments Limited]] || — || Director and company secretary || (declared) || Active
 +
|-
 +
| [[Dependable Properties Limited]] || 00468240 || Director || (declared) || Active
 +
|-
 +
| [[Station Court (Wembley) Management Company Limited]] || — || Director || (declared) || Active
 +
|-
 +
| [[Cavendish Corporate Finance LLP]] || OC333044 || Senior partner; former designated member / PSC || Founded 1988; LLP member to 5 Dec 2018 || Continuing as senior partner
 +
|-
 +
| [[Cavendish plc]] || 11540126 || Director || 28 November 2018 || Resigned 18 November 2020
 +
|-
 +
| [[AIM Academies Trust]] || 04389132 || Director || 5 December 2016 || Resigned 7 February 2024
 +
|-
 +
| [[World Holocaust Forum Foundation]] || 13248204 || Director || 5 March 2021 || Resigned 6 April 2022 (dissolved)
 +
|-
 +
| [[The Institute for Jewish Policy Research]] || — || Director || 29 June 2015 || Resigned 30 June 2025
 +
|-
 +
| [[Marlow Retail Limited]] || — || Director || 11 April 2014 || Resigned 8 February 2016
 +
|-
 +
| [[Cavendish Corporate Investments Limited]] || — || Director || 31 March 2012 || Dissolved
 +
|-
 +
| [[Cavendish Capital Advisors LLP]] || — || Designated LLP member || 16 January 2006 || Dissolved
 +
|-
 +
| [[Stepney Jewish (B'nai B'rith) Clubs & Settlement Limited]] || — || Director || 15 September 2008 || Resigned 29 October 2012
 +
|-
 +
| [[Leighstel 1 Ltd]] || 10053123 || Director || 9 March 2016 || Dissolved
 +
|-
 +
| [[Leighstel 2 Ltd]] || — || Director || 10 March 2016 || Dissolved
 +
|-
 +
| [[Denverdown Limited]] || 01679723 || Director || before 8 January 1992 || Resigned 4 February 2000
 +
|-
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| [[Wilcroft Holdings Limited]] || 00809752 || Director || before 7 August 1989 || Resigned 2 June 1993
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
He also declares a wide portfolio of shareholdings, including [[Cavendish plc]], [[Manolete Partners plc]], family property companies and listed investment trusts, plus a share of rent from residential, office and commercial property, mainly in London.<ref name="RoI" />
 +
 
 +
==Conservative Party==
  
−
==External resources==
+
Leigh has campaigned for the Conservatives since 1979. He became party treasurer in 2000 and senior treasurer in 2010, a tenure the [[Jewish Leadership Council]] still records. In 2026 ''The Times'' described him as “the longest-serving treasurer in the Conservative Party’s history.” He told the paper the party typically raises “roughly £20 million a year.”<ref name="JLC" /><ref name="Times2026">The Times, [https://www.thetimes.com/business/companies-markets/article/lord-leigh-cavendish-kdxrh5hgt Lord Leigh: Why I’m fighting the Treasury’s ‘killer’ tax changes] ''The Times'', 27 March 2026.</ref>
−
*[http://www.thejlc.org/author/hleigh/ Howard Leigh], Jewish Leadership Council.
+
 
−
*Richard Kay, [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1236762/The-Cameron-crony-Sams-payout.html The Cameron crony behind Sam's payout], Mailonline, 18 December 2009.
+
He chaired [[The Leader's Group]], the Conservative donor club in which a contribution of £50,000 or more bought dinners and other access to [[David Cameron]] and senior figures.<ref name="JC2013">Marcus Dysch, [https://www.thejc.com/news/mazel-toffs-to-three-new-peers-qx1z4mds Mazel Toffs to three new peers] ''The Jewish Chronicle'', 8 August 2013.</ref> ''The Guardian'' reported in 2011 that Tory insiders said he had helped bring in more than £2 million a year through fundraising events, and that [[Cavendish Corporate Finance]] had advised on the sale of [[Smythson]], where [[Samantha Cameron]] was creative director.<ref name="Guardian2011">Nicholas Watt, Robert Booth and Rajeev Syal, [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/19/link-liam-fox-donors-tory Revealed: the link between Liam Fox donors and Tory HQ] ''The Guardian'', 19 October 2011.</ref>
−
*Martin Bright, [http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/56577/tories-solicited-cash-werritty Tories solicited cash for Werritty], TheJC.com, 18 October 2011.
+
 
 +
In the [[Adam Werritty]] / [[Liam Fox]] affair of 2011, the Conservative Party confirmed that Leigh “introduced donors to Liam Fox's office during the 2005 leadership campaign.” A source close to Leigh said he “was as shocked as anybody to find that donors' funds were being used to fund Adam Werritty's trips.” ''The Spectator'' reported that ''The Jewish Chronicle'' had first carried the story of Leigh soliciting funds from wealthy Jewish donors including [[Poju Zabludowicz]], [[Mick Davis]] and [[Michael Lewis]].<ref name="Guardian2011" /><ref name="Spectator2011">The Spectator, [https://spectator.com/article/how-the-tories-turned-generous-donors-into-sinister-lobbyists/ How the Tories turned generous donors into sinister lobbyists] ''The Spectator'', 21 October 2011.</ref>
 +
 
 +
He is president of the [[Queen's Park and Maida Vale Conservative Association]]. In 2024 he accompanied the Prime Minister on a trade mission to China.<ref name="QP">Queen's Park and Maida Vale Conservatives, [https://www.queensparkmaidavaleconservatives.uk/people/howard-leigh-baron-leigh-hurley Howard Leigh, Baron Leigh of Hurley] ''queensparkmaidavaleconservatives.uk'', accessed 9 September 2026.</ref><ref name="JLC" />
 +
 
 +
==Israel advocacy and communal roles==
 +
 
 +
The Downing Street working-peerage announcement of 1 August 2013 listed Leigh as “former Chairman and current President of Westminster Synagogue; former Trustee of Jewish Care and current Chairman of Jewish Care’s Business Group; Trustee of the Jerusalem Foundation in the UK.”<ref name="GOV2013" />
 +
 
 +
He is a member of the advisory board of [[Conservative Friends of Israel]]. ''Jewish News'' has also recorded that he “sits on the board of BICOM” ([[Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre]]).<ref name="JLC" /><ref name="JN2025" />
 +
 
 +
In January 2016 he became chairman of [[Jerusalem Foundation]] UK, having been a trustee. Marcus Dysch wrote in ''The Jewish Chronicle'' that Leigh’s task was “encouraging high-level donors to supply much-needed funds to finance cultural, educational and welfare projects in Israel's capital city,” and that on one occasion he “secured a $10m donation from one individual to build a retirement home.” The same profile listed him as a [[Jewish Leadership Council]] vice-president and president of the [[Institute for Jewish Policy Research]].<ref name="JC2016">Marcus Dysch, [https://www.thejc.com/news/the-peer-raising-millions-for-jerusalem-rtb6jvsp The peer raising millions for Jerusalem] ''The Jewish Chronicle'', 25 January 2016.</ref>
 +
 
 +
He chaired [[Jewish Care]]’s Business Breakfasts from 2000, succeeding [[Lloyd Dorfman]]. ''Jewish News'' reported in December 2025 that after 25 years and some 80 breakfasts he was standing down, the series having raised more than £6 million. Speakers included [[David Cameron]], [[George Osborne]], [[Jeremy Hunt]], [[Sajid Javid]], [[Stuart Rose]] and [[Mark Carney]]. He handed the chair to [[Simon Lyons]] of [[Ardea Partners]] but said he would remain involved.<ref name="JN2025" />
 +
 
 +
==See also==
 +
 
 +
* [[Conservative Friends of Israel]]
 +
* [[BICOM]]
 +
* [[Jewish Leadership Council]]
 +
* [[Jerusalem Foundation]]
 +
* [[Cavendish Corporate Finance]]
 +
* [[The Leader's Group]]
 +
* [[Adam Werritty]]
 +
 
 +
==External links==
 +
 
 +
* [https://www.thejlc.org/rt-hon-lord-leigh-of-hurley Jewish Leadership Council profile]
 +
* [https://www.cavendish.com/people/lord-leigh-of-hurley/ Cavendish profile]
 +
* [https://members.parliament.uk/member/4295/registeredinterests Register of interests]
 +
* [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/lAFJXrAw3gecULf0JIhELtV4ifI/appointments Companies House appointments (Howard Darryl LEIGH)]
 +
* [https://www.queensparkmaidavaleconservatives.uk/people/howard-leigh-baron-leigh-hurley Queen's Park and Maida Vale Conservatives]
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
 +
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  
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[[Category:Financial sector lobbying|Leigh, Howard]]
 
[[Category:Financial sector lobbying|Leigh, Howard]]
 
[[Category:Conservative Party Donors|Leigh, Howard]]
 
[[Category:Conservative Party Donors|Leigh, Howard]]
 +
[[Category:Zionism in the United Kingdom|Leigh, Howard]]
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[[Category:Zionist movement|Leigh, Howard]]

Latest revision as of 11:10, 9 September 2026

Conservative peer, party treasurer, corporate financier and Israel advocate

Howard Leigh, Baron Leigh of Hurley
Image
Born April 1959
Died
Nationality British
Residence
Occupation Corporate financier; Conservative peer
Known for Senior Partner, Cavendish Corporate Finance; Senior Treasurer, Conservative Party; Conservative Friends of Israel
Parents
Spouse(s)
Children
Sibling(s)
Education
Predecessor
Website
Revolving Door.jpg This article is part of the Revolving Door project of Spinwatch.



Howard Darryl Leigh, Baron Leigh of Hurley (born April 1959) is a British corporate financier, Conservative life peer and long-serving party fundraiser. He co-founded Cavendish Corporate Finance in 1988 and remains its senior partner. He has been a treasurer of the Conservative Party since 2000 and senior treasurer since 2010.[1][2]

He was created a life peer on 16 September 2013 as Baron Leigh of Hurley, of Hurley in the Royal County of Berkshire, and sits on the Conservative benches in the House of Lords.[3][4] He speaks in the Lords on business, tax, trade, the Jewish community and Israel, and has chaired the Finance Bill select committee.[1]

Leigh is chairman of Jerusalem Foundation UK, president of Westminster Synagogue, president of the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, a vice-president of the Jewish Leadership Council, a member of the advisory board of Conservative Friends of Israel, and has sat on the board of BICOM. He chaired Jewish Care’s business breakfasts for 25 years.[1][5]

Background and education

Leigh was educated at Lyndhurst Preparatory (1967–1972), Clifton College, Bristol (1972–1976), and the University of Southampton, where he read economics from 1977 to 1980. He qualified as a chartered accountant with Deloitte Haskins & Sells and further qualified with the Chartered Institute of Taxation. In 1986 he established Deloitte’s mergers and acquisitions group before leaving in May 1988 with Hugo Haddon-Grant to found Cavendish Corporate Finance.[6][7]

He chaired the Faculty of Corporate Finance at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and in 2008 received its Outstanding Achievement in Corporate Finance award. He has served as an alternate to the ICAEW president on the Takeover Panel.[6]

Business

Cavendish Corporate Finance specialised in sell-side advice to owners of mid-market businesses and, according to the Jewish Leadership Council, has acted in more than 700 transactions. In December 2018 Cavendish merged with AIM-listed finnCap Group plc. After a further merger with Cenkos in September 2023 the listed vehicle became Cavendish Financial plc (now Cavendish plc). Leigh was a director of Cavendish plc from 28 November 2018 to 18 November 2020. He ceased to be a person with significant control of Cavendish Corporate Finance LLP on 5 December 2018, when Cavendish plc took that role.[1][8][9]

In September 2021 he became non-executive chairman of Manolete Partners plc, an insolvency litigation financier. Companies House records the directorship from 23 June 2021.[1][8] His parliamentary register records that a PA employed by Cavendish Corporate Finance supports his Lords work.[10]

The family property companies, including Dependable Investments Limited and managing agent Dennis Reed Limited, control freeholds and management in north-west London. In May 2022 The Times reported that a property tribunal had found commission of 67 per cent on buildings insurance at a Harrow development “excessive” and capped the charge. Leigh said the companies had “acted at all times within the terms and spirit of the appropriate laws and regulations, and indeed market practice.”[11]

Directorships

Companies House splits Leigh across more than one officer record. The Lords register and commercial compilations give the fuller working list of family property and finance vehicles. Current remunerated posts declared to Parliament are shown first.[10][8][12]

Current and recent company roles
Company Number Role Appointed Status
Manolete Partners plc 07660874 Director / chairman 23 June 2021 Active
Jerusalem Foundation Trustees Limited 06174036 Director 20 March 2007 Active
City and Suburban Investments Limited — Director (declared) Active (Lords register)
Craig & Company (Properties) Limited — Director 7 March 2012 Active
Dennis Reed Limited — Director and company secretary (declared) Active
Dependable Homes Limited — Director and company secretary (declared) Active
Dependable Investments Limited — Director and company secretary (declared) Active
Dependable Properties Limited 00468240 Director (declared) Active
Station Court (Wembley) Management Company Limited — Director (declared) Active
Cavendish Corporate Finance LLP OC333044 Senior partner; former designated member / PSC Founded 1988; LLP member to 5 Dec 2018 Continuing as senior partner
Cavendish plc 11540126 Director 28 November 2018 Resigned 18 November 2020
AIM Academies Trust 04389132 Director 5 December 2016 Resigned 7 February 2024
World Holocaust Forum Foundation 13248204 Director 5 March 2021 Resigned 6 April 2022 (dissolved)
The Institute for Jewish Policy Research — Director 29 June 2015 Resigned 30 June 2025
Marlow Retail Limited — Director 11 April 2014 Resigned 8 February 2016
Cavendish Corporate Investments Limited — Director 31 March 2012 Dissolved
Cavendish Capital Advisors LLP — Designated LLP member 16 January 2006 Dissolved
Stepney Jewish (B'nai B'rith) Clubs & Settlement Limited — Director 15 September 2008 Resigned 29 October 2012
Leighstel 1 Ltd 10053123 Director 9 March 2016 Dissolved
Leighstel 2 Ltd — Director 10 March 2016 Dissolved
Denverdown Limited 01679723 Director before 8 January 1992 Resigned 4 February 2000
Wilcroft Holdings Limited 00809752 Director before 7 August 1989 Resigned 2 June 1993

He also declares a wide portfolio of shareholdings, including Cavendish plc, Manolete Partners plc, family property companies and listed investment trusts, plus a share of rent from residential, office and commercial property, mainly in London.[10]

Conservative Party

Leigh has campaigned for the Conservatives since 1979. He became party treasurer in 2000 and senior treasurer in 2010, a tenure the Jewish Leadership Council still records. In 2026 The Times described him as “the longest-serving treasurer in the Conservative Party’s history.” He told the paper the party typically raises “roughly £20 million a year.”[1][13]

He chaired The Leader's Group, the Conservative donor club in which a contribution of £50,000 or more bought dinners and other access to David Cameron and senior figures.[14] The Guardian reported in 2011 that Tory insiders said he had helped bring in more than £2 million a year through fundraising events, and that Cavendish Corporate Finance had advised on the sale of Smythson, where Samantha Cameron was creative director.[15]

In the Adam Werritty / Liam Fox affair of 2011, the Conservative Party confirmed that Leigh “introduced donors to Liam Fox's office during the 2005 leadership campaign.” A source close to Leigh said he “was as shocked as anybody to find that donors' funds were being used to fund Adam Werritty's trips.” The Spectator reported that The Jewish Chronicle had first carried the story of Leigh soliciting funds from wealthy Jewish donors including Poju Zabludowicz, Mick Davis and Michael Lewis.[15][16]

He is president of the Queen's Park and Maida Vale Conservative Association. In 2024 he accompanied the Prime Minister on a trade mission to China.[17][1]

Israel advocacy and communal roles

The Downing Street working-peerage announcement of 1 August 2013 listed Leigh as “former Chairman and current President of Westminster Synagogue; former Trustee of Jewish Care and current Chairman of Jewish Care’s Business Group; Trustee of the Jerusalem Foundation in the UK.”[3]

He is a member of the advisory board of Conservative Friends of Israel. Jewish News has also recorded that he “sits on the board of BICOM” (Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre).[1][5]

In January 2016 he became chairman of Jerusalem Foundation UK, having been a trustee. Marcus Dysch wrote in The Jewish Chronicle that Leigh’s task was “encouraging high-level donors to supply much-needed funds to finance cultural, educational and welfare projects in Israel's capital city,” and that on one occasion he “secured a $10m donation from one individual to build a retirement home.” The same profile listed him as a Jewish Leadership Council vice-president and president of the Institute for Jewish Policy Research.[18]

He chaired Jewish Care’s Business Breakfasts from 2000, succeeding Lloyd Dorfman. Jewish News reported in December 2025 that after 25 years and some 80 breakfasts he was standing down, the series having raised more than £6 million. Speakers included David Cameron, George Osborne, Jeremy Hunt, Sajid Javid, Stuart Rose and Mark Carney. He handed the chair to Simon Lyons of Ardea Partners but said he would remain involved.[5]

See also

External links

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Jewish Leadership Council, Rt. Hon Lord Leigh of Hurley The Jewish Leadership Council, accessed 9 September 2026.
  2. ↑ Cavendish, Lord Leigh of Hurley Cavendish, accessed 9 September 2026.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Prime Minister's Office, Working peerages announced GOV.UK, 1 August 2013.
  4. ↑ UK Parliament, Parliamentary career for Lord Leigh of Hurley Parliament.uk, accessed 9 September 2026.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Candice Krieger, 25 years of serving up business titans over breakfast Jewish News, 18 December 2025.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cavendish, Howard Leigh Cavendish Corporate Finance (archived 24 July 2014).
  7. ↑ The Independent, Me And My Partner: Howard Leigh and Hugo Haddon-Grant The Independent, 3 March 1999.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Companies House, Howard Darryl LEIGH personal appointments Companies House, accessed 9 September 2026.
  9. ↑ Companies House, CAVENDISH CORPORATE FINANCE LLP persons with significant control Companies House, accessed 9 September 2026.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 UK Parliament, Register of Interests for Lord Leigh of Hurley Parliament.uk, accessed 9 September 2026.
  11. ↑ Andrew Ellson, Lord Leigh of Hurley accused of greed over ‘excessive’ leaseholder fees The Times, 23 May 2022.
  12. ↑ Check Company, HOWARD DARRYL LEIGH - LONDON Check Company, accessed 2026.
  13. ↑ The Times, Lord Leigh: Why I’m fighting the Treasury’s ‘killer’ tax changes The Times, 27 March 2026.
  14. ↑ Marcus Dysch, Mazel Toffs to three new peers The Jewish Chronicle, 8 August 2013.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Nicholas Watt, Robert Booth and Rajeev Syal, Revealed: the link between Liam Fox donors and Tory HQ The Guardian, 19 October 2011.
  16. ↑ The Spectator, How the Tories turned generous donors into sinister lobbyists The Spectator, 21 October 2011.
  17. ↑ Queen's Park and Maida Vale Conservatives, Howard Leigh, Baron Leigh of Hurley queensparkmaidavaleconservatives.uk, accessed 9 September 2026.
  18. ↑ Marcus Dysch, The peer raising millions for Jerusalem The Jewish Chronicle, 25 January 2016.
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