A major Tory donor today endorsed Jeremy Hunt as the candidate with the “negotiating skills” to deliver Brexit.
Sir David Ord told the Standard: “I have known Jeremy for over 30 years. His negotiating skills and persistence will be critical in delivering Brexit to which I know he is totally committed.”
Businessman Sir David, co-owner and MD of the Bristol Port Company, is a prolific donors to the Conservatives who has given some £1.1 million, according to official figures.
Figures issued in Parliament revealed that Mr Hunt, the Foreign Secretary, has attracted more donations to his campaign in recent weeks than any other candidate.
Mr Hunt received £103,994 in donations. Among the names listed in the Commons register of interests were First Corporate Shipping, which donated £25,000. A new donor, David Forbes-Nixon, the co-founder of Alcentra, gave £10,000.
Boris Johnson disclosed an extra £88,000 in donations, including from leading Vote Leave donors David Lilley, Jonathan Wood and Anthony Bamford.
No new donations were listed for Michael Gove, Dominic Raab or Sajid Javid.
Mr Hunt burnished his credentials as a negotiator this week by holding discussions with US President Donald Trump and chatting with Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel at the D-Day event in Portsmouth.
