The country is getting very very sad, please get a life the lot of you. I think there's more important things to deal with right now apart from the travel opportunities of MP's regardless of their position. How about focussing on ousting illegal presidents like in Zimbabwe, then foucus on the UK.

Richard, London, UK

Peter Hooper, Windsor, UK, you are bang on the button, excellent point

peter c, Devizes, Wessex

Farrukh is absolutely right.
Get on with it!

john, woodbridge,

It's unsurprising to hear this kind of story, the Conservative Party exists for the benefit of the rich, they always have done. The problem is that Labour do as well now, a new party that represents ordinary people is needed.

Owen, London, UK

Nice to see Mendelson is back. Is Mr Rothschild a friend?

Rob Scott, Liverpool,

Mr Osborne and Lord Mendelson appear to be 'birds of a feather'.

Mike, Sole Street, England

I agree with you Adrian on all points. Bar proportional representation as that led to the collapse of democracy in the Weimar Republic (Germany post WW1) after Hitler's rise to power.

David Adams, Gloucester, UK

Despite the huge sums Barack Obama has raised for his election campaign, the average donation is just $109 !
If he can do it, why cannot the UK political parties run their general election campaigns with maximum donations of just £100 from each of their supporters and no central government funding

Peter Hooper, Windsor, UK

It seem quite clear that no money was donated to the Conservatives. Therefore whether or not a conversation took place is immaterial. No breach of the rules has occurred.
Now regarding the total lack of business confidence, a story you have relegated in your running order that is far more important

Jeremy, London, England

It's so simple to solve. Ban all donations, fund parties from taxes, MPs get paid £100K a year plus detailed expenses: no second jobs or directorships. Bring in proportional representation. All is clear and the MPs can get on with making legislation in the interest of constituents, not oligarchs

Adrian, Hitchin, UK

If these British politicians were not on Deripaskas boat what were they there for???????????

Robert Yexley, Ferndown, England

Who cares? This is peanuts. The bankers with their million $ bonuses robbed the nation. Why aren't you pursuing them!Farrukh, Woking.

Farrukh - because Osborne wants to be the Chancellor of the Exchequer & if he is corrupt & at the helm, what hope is there for UK PLC?

Brendan, Kingston, UK

Carefully worded and specific denial from the Tories ...

" Donations TO THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY were not discussed WITH MR DERIPASKA. "

.. but they may have been discussed with his staff ? And donations to other front organisations may have been discussed with the man himself ?

archie, aberdeen,

how can the tories say they are the party of middle england if they feel it necessary to make friends with russian multi billionaires on mediterranean yachts?! as worrying as the allegations are, just as important is the moral question of being seen to do the right thing, not just spouting it!

toby, London, UK

whats new? Politicians need get campaign funds from somewhere and always have - for favours returned- why else? Obama's campaign funds have exceeded all previous -very largely from the public's small donations on the Internet. So lets limit gifts to £10k and politely show future big donors the door.

j.bentley, Loule, Portugal

Tories chat with foreign business man. Foreign business man offers donation. Tories refuse donation because it would be illegal.

Is this really a story?

Daniel, Reading, England

this is a Mandy pre snap election trick- they are definitely up to something. WATCH OUT

peter c, Devizes, Wessex

As Mark Twain observed correctly: "It is impossible to
underrate a politician!"

Stephen Back, Monte Carlo, Monaco

With "mutual friends" like that thank goodness for enemies.

Kent, Bath, England

"The bankers with their million $ bonuses robbed the nation. Why aren't you pursuing them!"

Because apparently they want to pursue Robert Peston for outing them.

Neil Murphy, Cromer,

Oh dear, I'm sure 'Boy George' will be regretting this. No smoke without fire i say!

Margaret Young, Kent,

Who cares? This is peanuts. The bankers with their million $ bonuses robbed the nation. Why aren't you pursuing them!

Farrukh, Woking,