the 58 Business supporters


		Professor Jonathan Charkham Non-Executive Director, Great Universal Stores (catalogue shopping group, including Argos, Burberry, Kays and the Experian credit check agency). Former adviser to the Governor of the Bank of England.		On Monday 14th May 2001, 58 business leaders wrote a letter to the Times newspaper calling on business as a whole to support the Labour Party. So far only 20 of the names have been released, and they are listed here. More names will be added as they become available. All 58 are Chairmen or Chief Executives. Seven of the companies are in the FTSE 100 list of top firms. Several of these business leaders have been knighted or ennobled by the Labour Government, including Lord Simpson former Chief Executive of arms manufacturers Marconi and Government adviser Lord Haskins. Several others are former Thatcherites, including Sir Alan Sugar, Ken Gilkes of Stort Chemicals and Gulam Noon of supermarket curry makers Noon Products. The letter signed by this group of rich company bosses (including Gordon Crawford, whose personal wealth is estimated at Ł1.3 BILLION) praises the Labour Government for providing "the economic conditions for businesses to grow and generate wealth" and because it has promoted a "spirit of enterprise in the British people". Since the 1997 election, the gap between the incomes of rich and poor people has risen every year. In 2001 it has reached its highest level ever - even worse than when the Tories were in power. The Labour Party's business friends would like us to believe that Margaret Thatcher's discredited 'trickle-down' economics are still at work today - as the rich get richer, some of the money is supposed to end up in our pockets. What is really happening is that the money is being taken out of our pockets and going straight into the bank accounts of the rich. Since the Labour Government took office the share of national income held by the top fifth of households has risen to 45%. The poorest fifth had just 6%.

		Sir John Parker Chairman of the Lattice Group, owners of Transco (the former British Gas network) and Spectrasite Transco (who build mobile phone masts). He was paid Ł225,000 in 2000

		Ian Smith Group Commercial Director of Exel. He sits on the DTI's Competitiveness Commission. Exel Tankfreight were members of the Fuel Supply Task Force

		Peter Harper Deputy Chairman of Lonmin, the re-branded Lonrho platinum and gold mining company, the 3rd largest platinum producer in the world

		Gordon Crawford Chairman of London Bridge Software, credit risk software specialists. His personal wealth is Ł1.3 billion.


		David Potter Chairman of Psion, computer manufacturers.He was paid Ł193,000 in 1999.		Other names on the list include: Lord Swarj Paul, owner of Caparo Industries, a steel manufacturing business. Moni Varma, Managing Director of the Veetee Rice company Christopher Campbell, Chairman of British Shipbuilders Ltd Graham Benson, Chairman of Blue Heaven Productions Alec Reed, Chairman of Reed Executive Sir Trevor Chinn, Chief Executive of Lex Services plc Russell Chambers, of investment bank Wit Soundview Europe Chris Powell, Chairman of BMBB Sandy Leitch, Chief Executive of Zurich Financial Services Paul Barron, President of Alstom UK Matt Thomson, Thomson Litho Chai Patel, Chief Executive Officer of Westminster Healthcare Sir Chris Evans Bryan Sanderson, Chairman of BUPA Somethin' Else Ltd (radio, TV and multimedia production company) and Premier Percussion (drum manufacturers) are also listed as providing support

		John Napier Executive Chairman of the Kelda Group, owners of Yorkshire Water.

		Allan Leighton Non-Executive Chairman of Lastminute.com. Former Chairman of Asda and President of Wal-Mart Europe. Given a job on the board of the Post Office in April 2001

		Adam Singer Chairman of Telewest, Television and Cable company

		Tim Waterstone Chair of the HMV Media Group and founder of the Waterstone's bookshop chain


		Sir Terence Conran Owner of the Conran shop and restaurant Group. Founder of Habitat

		Sir Alan Sugar Chairman of Amstrad and Executive Chairman of Viglen Ltd, his personal wealth is Ł585 million. He was knighted in 1999

		Graham Benson Chairman of Blue Heaven Productions, makers of the Ruth Rendell Mysteries

		Gerry Robinson Gerry Robinson is Chairman of the Granada Group. Given the job of Head of the Arts Council by Tony Blair in 1998

		Lord Simpson Former Chief Executive of Marconi, paid Ł2.85 million a year from 1998-2000. Ennobled by Tony Blair in 1997


		Ken Gilkes Executive Chairman of Stort Chemicals, suppliers of raw materials. He is a former Tory supporter

		Gulam K. Noon The founder of Noon Products, suppliers of ready-made curries to supermarkets. His personal wealth is Ł45 million. He is a former Tory supporter

		Henry Tinsley Chairman of Tinsley Foods (one of the UK's biggest privately-owned chilled food companies) and Chairman of Whole Earth (organic food company)

		Lord Haskins Chairman of Northern Foods and Express Dairies, ennobled by Blair in 1998

		Chris Wright Chairman of Chrysalis. His personal wealth is Ł155 million.

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