Lording it in Tax Exile

So, let's have a look at another recent big donor.

On 27th November 2007, Lord Irvine Laidlaw, gave the Conservative Party £2,990,582.20. Firstly, I do wonder how it came to be this figure. Was it such a hoot, that he just wrote some random figures on a cheque? Did he really write out "Two million, nine hundred and ninety thousand, five hundred and eighty two pounds and twenty pence"? Now that's what I'd call a big check - it'd need to be!

So who is he. Well, if you check on Wikipedia, you won't find much, but you will find the links to the Sunday Times article about his "failure to return to Britain for tax purposes", as promised before he became a Lord.