David Brownlow, Baron Brownlow of Shurlock Row
David Ellis Brownlow, Baron Brownlow of Shurlock Row, DL (born 16 September 1963) is a British entrepreneur, Conservative Party donor, philanthropist and life peer. He sits as a member of the House of Lords and served as Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party from July 2017 until July 2020. He is the founder of The David Brownlow Charitable Foundation and a trustee of the Royal Albert Hall Trust. Early life. Born in Liverpool, Brownlow graduated in economics from Newcastle Polytechnic, and spent two years as a policeman with Thames Valley Police based in  Slough. Business career. Brownlow co-founded the recruitment firm Huntswood in 1996 and in 2013 co-founded a private equity firm, Havisham, through which over £20 million has been invested. Havisham is one of the biggest investors in Cefinn, a fashion label founded by Samantha Cameron, the wife of David Cameron. Brownlow was described as Cameron’s “white knight” rescuer as Cefinn was losing more than £500,000 a year when Brownlow took a 10% stake in 2018. Honours. Brownlow was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 2018 Birthday Honours, and appointed Deputy to  The Lord Lieutenant of The Royal County of Berkshire in January 2018. Politics. He was nominated for a life peerage in Theresa May's resignation honours and was created Baron Brownlow of Shurlock Row, of Shurlock Row in the Royal County of Berkshire, on 9 October 2019 and introduced to The House on 15 October 2019. In figures released by the Electoral Commission, it was shown that he was one of the Conservative Party's biggest donors, giving the party almost £3 million (£714,690 in 2017 alone). Brownlow’s company Huntswood Associates Ltd paid a total of £ 112,549 to the supplier responsible for the refurbishment of the flat above 11 Downing Street, where Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his wife, Carrie, and their children live. Johnson has since repaid more than £110,000 of these costs. By the end of December 2021, sources with knowledge of the matter indicated to the press that the prime minister is expected to be cleared of breaking the ministerial code with regard to the £58,000 of flat improvement expenses which remained under scrutiny.