# The politics of giving

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/1998/04/15/politics-giving/
- Published: 1998-04-15T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

As the inquiry into political funding by the Committee on Standards in public life
opened on 15th April, chairman Lord Neill pondered on donor’s motivations. In response
to reports that Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone would not be appearing at the
inquiry, Lord Neill said “I would have liked to have asked him about the generous
donation [of £1 million to the Labour Party].” He echoed the thoughts of fundraisers
everywhere: “why do people do it? Do the donors want something in return? Do they
want doors to open for them?.” If Lord Neill finds any answers to these perennial
questions, we’ll report them on UK Fundraising. At least he is taking the right 
approach – a request for a face-to-face meeting with the donor.

 * **[Trading places](https://fundraising.co.uk/1998/05/04/trading-places/)** (4
   May 1998)
 * **[Heavenly fundraising – humour](https://fundraising.co.uk/1998/05/06/heavenly-fundraising-humour/)**(
   6 May 1998)
 * **[Annual Fund discussion](https://fundraising.co.uk/1998/05/09/annual-fund-discussion/)**(
   9 May 1998)

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