Johan Eliasch confirms ‘move’ to Labour
Gordon Brown has won another point against the Conservative party today as their former deputy treasurer Johan Eliasch crosses the political frontline to advise the prime minister.
Mr Eliasch will become Mr Brown’s special envoy on the environment and climate change.
He is planning not to renew his membership of the Conservative party when it lapses next month, but is not expected to formally join the Labour party.
The Anglo-Swedish tycoon announced his resignation as Conservative deputy treasurer last week, saying he believed David Cameron’s perceived ‘lurch to the right’ was a mistake.
Since returning from holiday last month, Mr Cameron has reverted back to traditional Tory territory with talk of “anarchy in the UK” and social breakdown.
Mr Eliasch held the position of deputy treasurer for five years, donating considerable sums of money to the party’s bank account.
He is a man of many talents; chairman and CEO of Head sportswear, a successful film producer and a committed environmentalist. So committed in fact, that he once purchased a 400,000 acre area of the Brazilian Amazon in order to preserve the flora and fauna.
The Conservatives pointed to this passion when explaining his sudden resignation last week, announcing he had left to “focus of climate change issues”.
But today’s revelation hands weighty political capital to Labour, as Mr Eliasch confirms he will advise the prime minister.
He follows the Conservative MPs Patrick Mercer and John Bercow, who also agreed to advise the government this week.
