Those who dined with the Prime Minister without civil servants present to take notes were some of the richest men and women in the country. At least one had openly called on ministers to scrap the 50p rate of income tax, the abolition of which was announced in last week’s Budget.  Among the new revelations in the donation row yesterday:  • Michael Spencer, one of the major Tory donors entertained by Mr Cameron at both Downing Street and Chequers boasted that he had been told by key figures in the Government that a proposed financial transaction tax would be vetoed by ministers  • Donor Ian Taylor, whose oil firm was given Government help to set up a controversial supply deal in Libya, was a private dinner guest of Mr Cameron at Downing Street in November.  • 29 donors were disclosed to have given more than £250,000 to the Conservatives – the 'Premier League’ level described by Mr Cruddas – since Mr Cameron was elected leader in 2005, on a total of 76 occasions.  It was revealed that the donors who dined in Downing Street – many with their wives – between July 2010 and November 2012 were: Anthony Bamford of the JCB construction empire; Michael Hintze, a hedge fund executive; Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover of the supermarket dynasty, Paul Ruddock, a hedge fund executive and V&A chairman; Michael Farmer, a commodities trader; Michael and Clara Freeman, philanthropists; and Michael Spencer, a spread-betting tycoon.  The supporters hosted at Chequers between August 2010 and February 2011 were: David Rowland, a property developer; Lord Ashcroft, a former Tory treasurer; Howard Leigh, a corporate financier and party fundraiser; and Mr Spencer. Lord Fink, who has replaced Mr Cruddas as party treasurer was also a guest at the Prime Minister’s Buckinghamshire country estate last year, records show.  In total, the 15 have donated almost £25 million to the Conservatives, the vast majority since Mr Cameron became party leader in December 2005.  The publication of the donors’ names and their hospitality was an embarrassing retreat for Downing Street, which began the day refusing to publish details of Mr Cameron’s private meetings with donors.  Francis Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, was deployed on Monday morning to stonewall requests for information, dismissing questions about possible impropriety as “nonsense”.  Mr Cameron’s office initially refused to discuss Mr Cameron’s “private” engagements in his official residences. “If he wants to have friends around, that’s a matter for him,” said a spokeswoman.  But the Prime Minister was forced into repeated retreats, first disclosing details of dinners in Downing Street and later of meals at Chequers.  In the Commons, Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, launched a strong attack on Mr Cameron over the donations row, suggesting the Prime Minister’s judgement is now in question.  Mr Miliband also ridiculed Mr Cameron’s pledge of an inquiry into Mr Cruddas’ comments to be held by Lord Gold of Westcliff-on-Sea, a Conservative peer and lawyer.  Anything short of an independent inquiry will “leave a permanent stain” on the reputation of the Government and the Prime Minister,” Mr Miliband said.  “This government promised transparency and promised to clean up politics, now they won’t even agree to a proper inquiry,” he told MPs. “This scandal speaks to the conduct and character of the prime minister and government.”  Mr Miliband received unlikely backing from the media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, who said Mr Cameron’s integrity is in question.  “What was Cameron thinking? No-one, rightly or wrongly, will believe his story,” he said. Of course there must be a full independent inquiry on both sides. In great detail, and with consequences. Trust must be established.”  Despite yesterday’s disclosures, No 10 admitted that not all donors’ visits to Chequers have yet been published in detail.  Several of the party’s biggest backers – not named yesterday – are understood to have attended an “opera night” at Chequers last October. Sources said the event, attended by more than 200 guests, had raised money for the charity Mencap.  Questions also remain over the records kept of guests to the Prime Minister’s retreat. Aides said records are “quite informal” and conceded that some guests’ attendance may not have been fully recorded.  Nor will details of Mr Cameron’s private dinners with donors at venues other than Downing Street or Chequers be disclosed. Mr Cruddas has said that Mr Cameron frequently meets major donors at dinners in private houses.  Mr Cameron pledged new rules on disclosure, promising that any ministerial meals with donors will be made public. Whitehall officials will also closely police attempts to influence Government policy by donors.  But the Prime Minister made clear that his new rules will apply “from now on” and will not be applied retrospectively.  The row over Mr Cruddas’ comments is the latest in a long string of rows involving donations and potential political influence.  The latest incident renewed political debate about reforming the party funding system, a project that has been repeatedly thwarted by the failure of Conservative and Labour leaders to accept curbs on donations from their own traditional backers.
David Cameron has been forced to admit that 15 donors who between them gave   the Conservative Party &pound;25million enjoyed secret dinners and lunches with   him at Chequers and in Downing Street.