Lib Dems: Don't Upset The Money.

I often wondered why the Liberal Democrats could not bring themselves to sufficiently reprimand Baroness Tonge for her racism and why they couldn’t see it in themselves to expel her, now the reason for that may be apparent.

Seemingly, the Lib Dems received some support from a billionaire “Anti-Zionist” and were probably careful not to upset him, by doing anything with Baroness Tonge.

Either that or the Lib Dems didn’t see the racism inherent in Baroness Tonge’s long history of outbursts:

“Ms Tonge said: “The pro-Israeli lobby has got its grips on the western world, its financial grips. I think they’ve probably got a grip on our party.”

The JC has more:

“A controversial Iraqi-British billionaire who funds one of the UK’s most strongly anti-Zionist websites organised a banquet in honour of Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, and a fundraiser for Susan Kramer, the party’s candidate in the high-profile seat of Richmond Park.

Nadhmi Auchi, 73, was convicted of fraud in the giant French Elf-Aquitaine oil company trial in 2003 and given a suspended sentence, although he is seeking to appeal the verdict.

The Lib Dems told the JC that the connection between the party and the billionaire was limited to the two events and that Mr Auchi was not a donor to the party.

Mr Clegg spoke at a dinner hosted by Mr Auchi’s Anglo-Arab Organisation, set up to promote understanding between Britain and the Arab world last November. The Lib Dems confirmed that the AAO also organised a £60-a-head dinner for Ms Kramer, which raised around £5,000.

Mr Auchi’s Middle East Online site promotes material by well-known anti-Zionists such as musician-activist Gilad Atzmon and Jeff Gates, who runs the anti-Israel “Criminal State” blog.

Mr Auchi also helped fund the first of George Galloway’s “Viva Palestina” convoys taking aid to Gaza.

The former Lib Dem leader Lord Steel is a longstanding director of Mr Auchi’s Luxembourg-registered company General Mediterranean Holdings. Other politicians who have worked with Mr Auchi include Lord Lamont and former minister Keith Vaz.”

I suppose that for all their steely principles that the Lib Dems didn’t want to upset the money, or the potential money.

Update 1: The Lib Dem voice is hosting a discussion somewhat related to this topic on the thread, LibLink: Lynne Featherstone calls for peace in Jewish Chronicle