Daily Telegraph newspaper in early effort to court the Cameron's missing shady financing

May 14, 2010

The Daily Telegraph newspaper wins the early award for seeking to ingratiate itself with the Prime Minister and his wife today. Journalist Becky Pugh writes as to "Which Smythson notebook would you give to which Cabinet minister ?" and seems to have a memory lapse as to informing readers that Samantha Cameron, "about to redefine the notion of having it all" was paid as Creative Director to Smythson over the past few years.

When you delve into the Smythson story it becomes somewhat more interesting - after all a salary of 400,000 pounds to design a diary collection which only changes colour season to season raises the 'cui bono' question ? Given Smythson's private ownership were people paying Samantha to buy access to opposition Leader David Cameron and keep his annual earnings declared to Parliament clean and sleaze-free ?

Kelso Place Asset Management and Venrex Investment Management became involved in 2005 and the Smythson business was sold to Greenwill SA (part of an Italian Group) last December - six months before the Election. Whilst Kelso Place is quite transparent online Venrex by contrast is rather opaque.

The really interesting fact is that Venrex Investment Management is led by Mark Esiri, like David an Old Etonian and as described by the Daily Telegraph October 12, 2007 as "an old Etonian, friend of the Cameron's and lives nearby in Notting Hill".

Time will tell as no doubt will David Cameron's first honours list. Will Any of the leadership team of Kelso and in particular Mark Esiri pick up an honour for funding Samantha and David during the opposition period ? Well done Becky.