Accolade for Tory party treasurer

A SERIAL entrepreneur who has given more than £160,000 to the Conservative Party has been awarded a CBE for voluntary political service.

Stuart Marks is a senior treasurer of the Conservative Party, where he works on a voluntary basis, raising funds by asking wealthy individuals and companies to donate.

Mr Marks has also given £164,800 to the Tories himself since 2013, some of which was donated by his start-up investment company.

Mr Marks said he had been awarded the honour in recognition of his voluntary fundraising work, not because of the money he had given to the party.

“I rattle the tin, as they say, and raise funds,” he said.

“As you well know, the Conservative Party relies very heavily on individuals, companies, outside donations in order to function.

“Unlike the Labour party, we don’t have the benefit of unions and a very large membership.”

Describing how he was told he had been awarded a CBE, one of the highest honours in the British honours system, he said: “You get a letter and you go, ‘oh wow, this is really nice’.”