Let's Party: Richest Dominate Political Donations

Just 76 people accounted for 41% of political donations over the last five years, new research has revealed.

According to Sunday Times Political Rich List, published in the newspaper this weekend, 25 people gave more than a £1m each to political parties and other political causes in Britain between 2010 and 2014.

That accounts for some 28% of the £174.4m donated in private and corporate cash.

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"It might not be America, but the bankrolling of British politics is increasingly concentrated in the hands of an already privileged few," the paper writes.

Topping the of donors is the Ayrshire couple Colin and Chris Weir, who won £161m on the EuroMillions lottery in July 2011.

Since 2013 they have given £6.5m to the SNP and pro-independence Yes Scotland campaign, the paper reported.

Second on the list is Lord Farmer, founder of the RK Capital Management hedge fund and treasurer of the Conservative party.

He has handed over some £5m to the Tories since 2010 and more than £7.4m since 2001.

Other big donors include JCB chairman Lord Bamford and other members of his family, who have given the Tories a combined total of £3.6m and Lord Sainsbury of Turville who is reported to have donated over £3.5m to various political causes, including some £542,000 to Labour and to David Miliband. Lord Sainsbury halted donations when Ed Miliband became leader in 2010.

Meanwhile, Lord Verjee has given the Liberal Democrats £1.8m.

The research was commissioned for the first-ever Sunday Times Political Rich List which has been published ahead of The 2015 Sunday Times Rich List next week.

In total, 197 people who have featured on the elite list between 2011 and 2015 contributed £82.4m, just under half (47%) of political donations in that period.

The Conservative Party was the biggest winner, receiving donations from 151 of the 197 individuals.