Tony Blair's private fundraiser

In January 1994, at the all expenses paid invitation of the government of Israel, Tony Blair secretly visited that country.

Two weeks after his return to England, the Israeli Embassy official, Gideon Meir, introduced him to Michael Levy. Thereafter, Michael Levy, the boss of Magnet Records, became Tony Blair's private fundraiser and the New Labour project had begun.

Levy would, after Blair entered number 10, become his 'special envoy' to the Middle-East, and his unofficial Foreign Secretary in that region.

In 1999, In Tony Blair's business friendly Britain, the multi-millionaire Levy managed to pay only £5,000 in tax. In other words, he paid about the same as your average PAYE dustman. On the 18 of August 1997, The Guardian reported thus:

"To disaffected former members of staff at Magnet Records, home of hits for Alvin Stardust and Chris Rea, their boss Michael Levy was a tyrant who revelled in his power. His tricks included chasing people around the office and throwing ashtrays…

Levy's talents are indisputable as a tough negotiator, shrewd entrepreneur and charity fund-raiser. As chairman he brought in a phenomenal £60m for Jewish Care. Levy also happens to be a close friend of Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has much to be grateful to Levy for.

Levy's money-raising talents helped Blair finance his private office, leading to claims he was establishing a party within the party. For his services to the party and for charity, Blair has swiftly rewarded him with a seat in the House of Lords…

He gained access to Blair's inner sanctum through his friendship with the late Labour leader John Smith, a frequent visitor to Levy's house in Totteridge, north London...

Levy was entrusted as the main fundraiser for The Labour Leader's Office Fund… It was a task Levy applied himself to with his usual vigour, raising an estimated £2m from the likes of Alex Bernstein, former head of Granada Television, David Goldman, former chairman of Sage software group, and other prominent businessmen…

A homebody, his centre of gravity is his wife Gilda and their two children. Most of his deal-making takes place over the heimisch cuisine of Gilda. Tony Blair has been a regular diner at Gilda's table, as have captains of industry…

In 1972 his friend Maurice Oberstein, head of the then CBS Records, helped him form Magnet Records."

During the course of the Channel 4 Dispatches documentary, 'Inside Britain's Israel Lobby,' (16 November 2009) Peter Oborne said:

"Shortly before Blair became party leader in 1994, he met Michael Levy the pop music millionaire AT A SOCIAL EVENT ARRANGED BY THE ISRAELI EMBASSY. They became friends, playing tennis together and LEVY BECAME BLAIR'S CHIEF FUNDRAISER. IT'S ESTIMATED THAT HE RAISED OVER £15 MILLION FOR LABOUR BEFORE THE ROW OVER CASH-FOR-PEERAGES.

When Tony Blair became Prime Minster in 1997, HE AWARDED MICHAEL LEVY A LIFE PEERAGE AND MADE HIM HIS SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST. But, because Lord Levy was unpaid and working directly to the Prime Minister, WHAT HE NEGOTIATED BETWEEN ISRAEL AND ITS ARAB NEIGHBOURS, ON BEHALF OF BRITAIN, WAS KEPT SECRET."

Oxford University Middle East specialist, Professor Avi Schlaim, said this during the course of the same documentary:

"SOMETHING BECAME SKEWED IN BRITISH POLITICS WHEN AN UNELECTED FRIEND OF THE PRIME MINISTER HAD SO MUCH INFLUENCE OVER BRITISH POLICY TOWARDS THE MIDDLE EAST".

Professor Shlaim is, himself, Jewish.