Alistair McAlpine, Baron McAlpine of West Green

Alistair McAlpine emerged from the powerful construction dynasty that built much of modern London, but his true legacy was forged in the backrooms of power. As treasurer of the Conservative Party, he was the financial architect behind Margaret Thatcher's political machine, marshalling funds and influence with a discreet, almost shadowy, effectiveness. Yet McAlpine was a man of contrasting passions. He poured his wealth into a vast and eclectic collection of modern art and tribal artefacts, and authored witty, insightful columns and books that revealed a sharp observer of society. His later years were marred by a devastating false accusation on social media, a case that became a landmark in British libel law. He remained, until the end, a singular figure who understood that both politics and culture are built on foundations of money, loyalty, and sometimes, controversy.