The truth is that business contributes to political parties because it believes it can get something in return. I will not elaborate on the list of benefits that can accrue but some are worthy of mention. They include the reluctance to do anything about the hoarding of building land; the reluctance and delay in doing something about the price of housing when people were being crucified by rip-off prices in order that certain people got rich; and the decision to reduce capital gains tax at a time when the property market was booming and the last thing it needed was the stimulus of a reduction in the tax.