Of all the uses to which Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne might put their money, there are few more innocent than giving it to a political party. Neither want, nor expect, preferment, honours or patronage. Both are idealistic by nature and philanthropic by habit. They have all the personal wealth they need to fund their lifestyles, and harbour hopes only for enriching Britain by their actions.

I might not agree with all their ideas for how one might make this country stronger, or indeed how best to spend £72 million to improve our governance. But they have shown themselves a good deal shrewder than me in making money, and they should be entitled, within the law, to spend it as they wish. The self-righteous anger directed towards them reminds me of the Establishment reaction to Sir James Goldsmith when he launched the Referendum party in the 1990s. How dare this rootless cosmopolitan businessman seek to subvert our democracy, etc.

The briefing is that the new funds will go on a Reform TV channel and constituency campaign managers

The briefing is that the new funds will go on a Reform TV channel and constituency campaign managers

If you are really worried about cash from the wealthy corrupting our democracy – and I am – then attention is better directed at the lobbying, lunching and crony corporatism by which major City players, incumbents in areas like house-building, defence and energy, and outsourcing giants such as Serco and Capita direct government action and funding to suit their own vested interests. There are daily........

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