Pity David Cameron. A prime minister might expect to spend his evenings telephoning presidents, or discussing matters of state with trusted advisers, or even playing with his young children. But no. He must invite into his family home a motley group of Conservative donors and endure their criticisms, banalities and self-interested pitches with a smile, because they have bought the right to parley on equal terms with the premier.
Having borne that, because Peter Cruddas, then joint treasurer of the party, was filmed trying to sell access to Downing Street, Mr Cameron finds his integrity questioned. Nothing brings an honest man closer to despair.
The fiasco has contributed to the government’s worst spell since the election. The public assumes that the 50p rate of income tax is to be cut because the rich rule the Tory party. Using Downing Street – government property – for party fundraising smells bad, and because Mr Cruddas hinted at ways to circumvent the law banning foreign donations, it will be hard to resist a public inquiry.