Steerpike Steerpike

Club wars: Robin Birley gives Ukip £55,000 while Annabel’s gives Tories £20,000

Mr S has just been flicking through the latest figures released today by the Electoral Commission, and was intrigued to see that in the last quarter Robin Birley, the half-brother of Tory MP Zac Goldsmith and New Statesman associate editor Jemima Goldsmith, has donated £55,000 to Ukip. This latest lump takes the millionaire’s donations to Farage’s self-styled ‘People’s Army’ up to £120,000.

In the lead up to the election, the club wars of London have taken a political twist. With Birley and his 5 Hertford Street venue now firmly in the Ukip camp, Mr S was amused to see deadly Mayfair rival Annabel’s giving £20,000 to the Tories. The club’s proprietor Richard Caring recently donated a night at the venue as a lot for the Tory Black & White Ball.

Mr S would be interested to know which club Jemima is hanging out in these days.

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