18 Facts About Stuart Wheeler

John Stuart Wheeler was a British financier, gambler and political activist.

Stuart Wheeler made his fortune as the founder of the spread betting firm IG Index in 1974, but was best known for his political activism, being a major donor to the Conservative Party and treasurer of the UK Independence Party from 2011 to 2014.

Stuart Wheeler spent his early years growing up on the Leighon Estate in Manaton, Devon.

Stuart Wheeler did his national service with the Welsh Guards, before studying at Christ Church, Oxford, from where he graduated with a second-class degree in law.

Stuart Wheeler practised law as a barrister, before becoming an investment banker.

However, Stuart Wheeler found his niche through IG Index, which pioneered spread betting.

In January 2008, Stuart Wheeler brought an action against the government, represented by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, over the government's process of ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon.

The government, along with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, had pledged in their 2005 manifestos to hold a referendum on the European Constitution, which Stuart Wheeler held did not have "significant or material differences" from the Treaty of Lisbon.

Stuart Wheeler was seen as belonging to the right wing of the Conservative Party.

Stuart Wheeler supported Liam Fox in the 2005 leadership contest, and switched his support to David Davis against David Cameron in the final run-off.

Stuart Wheeler was critical of the leadership of David Cameron during its first few months.

On 29 March 2010, Stuart Wheeler announced that he was forming a new political party to be called the Trust Party and that he would run for the Bexhill and Battle seat.

In 2011, Stuart Wheeler was appointed treasurer of UKIP to spearhead fundraising in advance of the 2014 European elections.

Stuart Wheeler's appointment was seen as a blow for the Conservatives because of his network of contacts.

At the launch of the Vote Leave campaign for Brexit in October 2015, Stuart Wheeler was reported to be one of the new group's three major donors, with Peter Cruddas and John Mills; the three men were appointed as joint co-treasurers.

Stuart Wheeler was called an "obsessive" gambler, taking a keen interest in card and risk games and having played bridge with Lord Lucan on 6 November 1974, two days before his disappearance, and with Omar Sharif, as well as being a regular competitor in World Series of Poker championships.

In June 2020, Stuart Wheeler announced that he had stomach cancer with only "six months to live".

Stuart Wheeler died a month later on 23 July 2020, aged 85, at his home Chilham Castle in Kent.