Tory Donor Rami Ranger Pays £50,000 for Dinner with Kemi Badenoch
In a controversial move, Conservative donor Rami Ranger has spent £50,000 to secure a dinner with Kemi Badenoch at a Tory fundraising event, according to exclusive reports. This development has ignited fury within the party, as Ranger was temporarily suspended in 2023 over allegations of bullying and inappropriate language.
Background of the Suspension and Reinstatement
Lord Ranger, who has donated over £1.5 million to the Conservatives since 2009, faced suspension in 2023 following complaints about his remarks. These included unfounded allegations against freelance journalist Poonam Joshi, whom he called an "evil woman" and threatened with legal action, as well as comments about Pakistanis that he later apologized for. The House of Lords commissioner for standards found he had abused his power by persistently undermining Joshi, but he avoided parliamentary suspension after agreeing to social media training.
He was readmitted to the party in November 2024, but soon after, he was stripped of his CBE, a decision he described as devastating. Ranger claims his suspension resulted from refusing to apologize to complainants, stating his long-standing support for the party since 1978, inspired by principles of free trade and limited bureaucracy.
Fundraising Event Details and Internal Criticism
The dinner with Badenoch was part of a 1920s-themed fundraiser at the five-star Peninsula hotel in central London, where tables cost up to £10,000 each. The event reportedly raised around £220,000 for the Conservatives, with other lots including dinners with Michael Gove and Jacob Rees-Mogg. Badenoch's dinner was the most popular, attracting bids from multiple senior donors.
However, Ranger's successful bid has drawn sharp criticism from within the party. One backer remarked, "The rehabilitation of Rami Ranger just shows how desperate this Tory party is for money from anywhere." Poonam Joshi condemned the party's reintegration of Ranger, calling it "appalling and totally unethical."
Shift in Party Attitude and Ongoing Scrutiny
Ranger's invitation and bid highlight a significant shift in the Conservative party's stance towards him in recent years. Despite his suspension and the loss of his CBE, he was quietly reinstated in late 2024, with the parliamentary register updated to reflect his previous suspension. Electoral Commission records show he donated £5,000 during his suspension in early 2024 but has not contributed since.
The Conservative party has not commented on the matter, leaving questions about fundraising ethics and donor rehabilitation unresolved. This incident underscores ongoing tensions within the party over financial dependencies and accountability.
