Guido missed a couple of brands backing Basher Davis. Secretive slush fund, the Midlands Industrial Council has chipped in a few quid in the past, as has Michael Spencer’s Intercapital. The biggest money broker in the City has a private subsidiary free of corporate governance issues and pesky shareholders which owns a bookmakers, entertains a lot and was used to back Basher during the general election. Michael Spencer is well known in the City (he is worth half-a-billion) for his lavish parties and his desire for a knighthood. Surely a frolicking FTSE-100 Chairman should get a gong? He strangely hasn’t got one, even though he has lavished a fortune on the Tories, including paying Lynton Crosby’s £250,000 fee.

Hasn’t got a gong yet.