GOLDMAN'S SACKS
TORY Treasury spokesman Mark Hoban was not impressed when Gordon Brown described Goldman Sachs as "morally bankrupt" and asked why the Prime Minister was both condemning Goldman while "still using them as advisers", accusing Brown of "lashing out at the people he was very happy to work with over the last 13 years."

A good question. But Hoban should know that Goldman bankers are Tory funders as well as government advisers.

Simon Robertson, a major Goldman banker until 2005, has given the Tories £325,000 since 2004. Richard Sharp, a leading Goldman director until 2006, gave Kensington & Chelsea Tories thousands while working at the bank, and has given Conservative Central Office £220,000 since 2006. Sharp is also an adviser to Boris Johnson.

Christopher French, head of "wealth management" at Goldman Sachs, gave the Conservatives £50,000 in 2008. Hugh Sloane and George Robinson have given them £317,000 and £150,000 respectively. Their hedge fund, Sloane Robinson, ran one of its funds in partnership with Goldman Sachs which "also provide the Partnership with financing lines and short selling facilities".