West Ham FC donate to Tory Party

[hibsbollah]

http://www.dorseteye.com/south/articles/look-who-s-bankrolling-the-tories-folks

I had no idea about this. Apparently WHFC donated £12,500 to the Tory Party in 2016(just after the Olympic stadium completion) and Karren Brady is vice chair of WHFC and a Tory Peer. They've donated more but no figures available.

Is it just me or is this totally bizarre? Can you imagine Hibs FC, not an individual, donating to say, the SNP or Scottish Labour and trying to find a justification for using a clubs money in this way?

[Hibbyradge]

That really is strange.

Edit: The more I think about this, the more outrageous it seems.

I'd be furious if Hibs donated to a political party. A football club should be apolitical because it's supporters will have a wide variety of political views.

What are the West Ham fans saying about it?

[Smartie]

We do quite like to be apolitical though.

I do consider a big part of the "Hibs fan identity" to be that it doesn't matter what your political beliefs are.

Some clubs are different to that, some are bonded together by a political ideology.

That said I'd be surprised if West Ham would be overwhelmingly Tory. They'll have their moneyed Essex-based fanbase who'll no doubt have many Tories amongst their numbers, but I'd have thought that a lot of their traditional "East End" fanbase would be appalled at their money going into their club only to be passed on to the Tory party.

You're at the mercy of your owners these days though, and West Ham are owned and run by Brady and the dildo brothers, who will undoubtedly be Tories.

[hibsbollah]

That really is strange.

Edit: The more I think about this, the more outrageous it seems.

I'd be furious if Hibs donated to a political party. A football club should be apolitical because it's supporters will have a wide variety of political views.

What are the West Ham fans saying about it?

http://www.kumb.com/story.php?id=129886

The fans quoted here don't seem happy. It's an old story, 18 months old, but I'd never seen it widely reported or discussed before. Raises some interesting questions about it happening again and if there is any legal impediment to it.

You could argue that if Brady thinks a Tory government is in the best interests of the club in the form of lower corporation tax etc she is justified as a representative of the best interests of the club. But shouldn't a football club be impartial and at least make an effort to be seen to representative of supporters, who obviously will have a wide range of views?

I bet Berlusconi was at it at Milan.

[snooky]

I hope all their bubbles burst.

[Colr]

http://www.dorseteye.com/south/articles/look-who-s-bankrolling-the-tories-folks

I had no idea about this. Apparently WHFC donated £12,500 to the Tory Party in 2016(just after the Olympic stadium completion) and Karren Brady is vice chair of WHFC and a Tory Peer. They've donated more but no figures available.

Is it just me or is this totally bizarre? Can you imagine Hibs FC, not an individual, donating to say, the SNP or Scottish Labour and trying to find a justification for using a clubs money in this way?

Their owners supply reading material for Damien Green as well.

[SouthsideHarp_Bhoy]

Their owners supply reading material for Damien Green as well.

😂

[Hibernia&Alba]

I wonder what the Hammers fans think of this; East London being amongst the heaviest Labour vote in Britain.

What a roaster Brady is, by the way.

[The Modfather]

Isn’t this stuff fairly common? Sure Hearts were funded by the Monster Raving Loony party before Budge 😀

[WeeRussell]

Shame, used to have a soft spot for them in terms of cockney clubs!

[NAE NOOKIE]

I would do my nut if Hibs donated to a political party, even one I support .... If they donated to the Tory party I would return my season ticket and demand a refund, there is no F'ing way I would give my money to Hibs if I thought for a second a penny of it would be used to prop up those bassas :grr:

Football clubs are supported by folk of all political persuasions and none, just as they are by folk of all religions and none. A club would be mental to show support for any of these groups and alienate a large amount of their support by doing so.

I like Hibs to show a social conscience and that's as far into the political arena as I would ever want the club to go :aok:

[lapsedhibee]

I'd have thought that a lot of their traditional "East End" fanbase would be appalled at their money going into their club only to be passed on to the Tory party.

Dunno. In the black and white documentary about the East End that I used to watch the Hammers supporter featured was a rabid Tory.

[Tornadoes70]

Dunno. In the black and white documentary about the East End that I used to watch the Hammers supporter featured was a rabid Tory.

Wasn't Alf Garnett an Ammer?

:greengrin

[Hibernia&Alba]

Wasn't Alf Garnett an Ammer?

:greengrin

He certainly was.

[Colr]

He certainly was.

Warren Mitchell was Spurs, though.

[Tornadoes70]

Warren Mitchell was Spurs, though.

Warren himself was a good spud indeed.

:greengrin

[Colr]

Warren himself was a good spud indeed.

:greengrin

Saw him in The Price along with Larry Lamb. Good actor

[Hibernia&Alba]

Warren Mitchell was Spurs, though.

And a socialist. Nothing like his Alf Garnett character.

[heretoday]

Lots of socialists support West Ham. East End of London. Big deal.

[Colr]

And a socialist. Nothing like his Alf Garnett character.

As he used to expali to the hard of thinking, we were laughing AT Alf Garnet not WITH him.

[Colr]

Lots of socialists support West Ham. East End of London. Big deal.

Local Council are big supporters of them as an organisation including the Scottish, socialist major. They should understand who is in their corner - and it isn’t the ******g Tory party.

[lord bunberry]

It’s probably money for getting them a ridiculously good deal on the Olympic stadium. In years gone by the money would’ve been exchanged in brown envelopes.

[NAE NOOKIE]

It’s probably money for getting them a ridiculously good deal on the Olympic stadium. In years gone by the money would’ve been exchanged in brown envelopes.

True ... the amount of public money spent on the Olympic stadium to make it fit for football was eye watering, folk who raise eyebrows at the possibility of a Hampden refurbishment getting public money should take a look at the figures.

[Colr]

True ... the amount of public money spent on the Olympic stadium to make it fit for football was eye watering, folk who raise eyebrows at the possibility of a Hampden refurbishment getting public money should take a look at the figures.

Most of that was from London and Newham. What are Glasgow doing for Hampden? Different priorities?