Former Tory and Labour donor charged with bribing foreign politician

Martin Bentham

23 May 2024 at 1:01 pm·1-min read

A Rolls Royce driving businessman who has donated money to both the Conservatives and Labour was charged with bribing a foreign politician in the Caribbean.

The National Crime Agency said Peter Virdee, 50, also known as Hardip Singh, had been accused in an appearance at Westminster Magistrates of bribing Asot Michael, an MP and tourism minister for Antigua and Barbuda between January 2015 and July 2017 to benefit PV Energy Ltd, a company of which he is a director.

PV Energy ltd was simultaneously charged with failing to prevent bribery in relation to the same offences.

Mr Virdee, who has previously given £100,000 to the Conservatives and £2,000 to the Labour shadow minister Preet Gill, was bailed to appear at Southwark Crown Court in June.

He is reported to have previously met the late Queen and Duke and Edinburgh and to have posed for photos with Rihanna, Usain Bolt and Al Pacino and has owned multiple Rolls Royce cars.

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