Takes lobbying to a whole new level:
… The precise amount raised from the 2013 event cannot be quantified, but Electoral Commission filings show that since the ball those present have donated a total £5m, £1.1m of which was registered in the week after the event. Table sales raised at least £250,000, with the cheaper tickets going for £400 a time. …
… The summer party is the Conservatives’ second largest fundraiser after the winter “black and white ball”. Altogether, guests at the event have donated an estimated £22m to the Conservative party since records began in 2001, either in a private capacity and through companies of which they are directors. …
The article goes on to detail the presence of numerous international billionaires and Russian oligarchs including Vladimir Putin’s judo partner.
In the interests of political neutrality, we will be happy to receive and publish similar current information about other political parties or individuals.
East Devon Watch 
The favoured fundraiser in the main party around here is to spend the day shooting stuff. This regularly leads to a picture of Mr Parish and some of his more intellectually challenged councillors gurning at readers from our newspaper pages with the smell of cordite hanging over their heads. It seems unlikely that these characters would make the cut for the main Tory ball, unless there is a problem with badger sets or rogue foxes that needs their special skillset.
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Whilst there is little evidence of explicit corruption (i.e. policies for cash) from this event, as the Grauniad suggests, it may be difficult to take a strong position against the interests of a major contributor because of both the risk of bad publicity and the risk of losing a similar large donation next time around (i.e. in a few weeks).
Whilst most of the funds raised will be used for central Tory spending e.g. on publicity, undoubtedly some of it (either directly from these donations or indirectly by funds freed up by these donations or even more indirectly by reducing the need for local Conservative organisations to fund Central Office) filters down to local level and supports the electioneering by the local East Devon Conservative parties / clubs.
This must make it difficult for other parties and even more difficult for Independents to campaign on an equal footing. Just how democratic is that??!!
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