Aldridge, founder of Capita, resigned from his post as executive chairman last week amid fears that publicity surrounding the loan might taint the company’s image. The firm has enjoyed huge profits from its contracts with central and local government, including £280m to run London’s congestion charge and £400m to provide computer systems for the Criminal Records Bureau. Aldridge, who has donated £2m to one of Blair’s city academies, has a stake in Capita worth £72m.

SIR DAVID GARRARD, 67
Loan: £2.3m

Garrard, former chairman of Minerva, a property investment company, saw its fortunes boosted following a 2003 planning decision by John Prescott that gave permission for a controversial skyscraper to be built in the City. In total he has donated or loaned £5m to Labour or the party’s city academies. Though a slow starter — he could not read or write until he was nine — Garrard has since amassed a fortune of more than £100m. Like his protégé , Rosenfeld, he is a former Tory supporter.

ANDREW ROSENFELD, 43
Loan: £1m

Rosenfeld, non-executive chairman of Minerva plc, was headhunted by Garrard when he was in his mid-20s. Like Garrard, he has benefited from two crucial interventions by John Prescott. First, the decision to give the go-head to the 712ft Minerva Tower in the City.

Second, Prescott backed Minerva’s plans for an American-style shopping mall in Croydon. Rosenfeld, a father of four, is estimated to be making £1m a month as the value of his investments in Minerva rises.

RICHARD CARING, 57
Loan: £2m

Caring, a tennis partner of Labour’s fundraiser-in-chief, Lord Levy, made a £300m fortune by expanding his father’s textile business through his London-based fashion supplier International Clothing Designs (Holdings). He operated factories in the Far East, acting as middleman to British retail chains. Caring has since spent £130m buying the Wentworth golf club, and also owns the Ivy and Le Caprice restaurants. He is a friend and business associate of BHS magnate Philip Green.

BARRY TOWNSLEY, 59
Loan: £1m

Townsley is a business associate of Martin Paisner, a City solicitor put in charge of a blind trust running the Blairs’ personal finances. The pair support Jewish Care, a health and social care charity whose president is Lord Levy. Townsley made £10m selling his stockbroking business, but has retained other investments in the City. He has pledged £1.5m to a London city academy, and is a director with Richard Caring of the company that owns Wentworth golf club.

SIR GULAM NOON, 70
Loan: £250,000

Noon is founder and chairman of Noon Products, which produces pre-packaged Asian meals. He has lobbied the Home Office to relax immigration rules to allow trained Indian chefs into Britain, saying he can create 25 jobs for every extra chef on his payroll. He got his chance to influence immigration policy in November 2004 when he was appointed to the Home Office advisory board on naturalisation and integration. Noon has made £50m from his food business.

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