Read on Twitter
I was really sad when I heard yesterday that Stuart Wheeler had passed away. He was one of the most instrumental people in my career and became a good personal friend.
It began with his support for @the_tpa in its early days. 1/10 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2020/07/23/stuart-wheeler-spread-betting-mogul-became-leading-donor-conservative/
It began with his support for @the_tpa in its early days. 1/10 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2020/07/23/stuart-wheeler-spread-betting-mogul-became-leading-donor-conservative/
I was 25, I'd launched the TaxPayers' Alliance not really knowing any politicians, journalists or donors, and I wrote to the signatories of a Business for Sterling advertisement with my 'Strategy Plan'. I thought, if they like BfS, there's a good chance they'll like the TPA. 2/10
Stuart was one of the people who very generously sent a contribution, having never met me, and before we had a campaigning track record. So I am hugely grateful that he supported me as a young campaigner with big plans and no resources. 3/10
A few years after our launch, we commissioned Dominic Cummings and James Frayne to look into attitudes to the EU. Their polling and focus group work convinced the Daily Express to launch their campaign for an EU referendum, which ultimately led to Cameron's Bloomberg Speech. 4/10
I also remember very fondly my trips to stay with Stuart at Chilham Castle. I had never been a guest at someone's country house before, let alone a castle. I remember being apprehensive - What should I wear? What gift should I bring? What time should I arrive and leave? 5/10
As a working-class boy from Leeds, it was a great unknown to me, but I remember how Stuart and his wife Tessa made me feel so much at home and overlooked my occasional mistakes. This was a new world to me, but they made me feel so welcome, which I greatly appreciated. 6/10
When it came to the EU debate, Stuart played a hugely instrumental role. Supporting William Hague to ensure he pushed his Keep the Pound message. Supporting Nigel Farge to give UKIP some traction so they could nudge the Conservatives towards a referendum. 7/10
Supporting campaign groups like Business for Sterling, the TaxPayers' Alliance and the Freedom Association, and think-tanks like the IEA ( @iealondon), with their ground-breaking Brexit Prize. And - to top it all off - everything he did for Vote Leave. 8/10
But this is just a fraction of what he did. More important to him than being a Brexiteer, was his support for @FreefromTorture, @Reprieve, @amnesty, @hrw – Human Rights Watch, and @libertyhq. 9/10
I have so many happy memories of Stuart. His modesty despite having achieved so much. His perceptive and wise contributions to discussions. And the obvious pleasure and delight he took in his family. RIP 10/10
