UK bankers to put wallets first in election

London - When it comes to politics, bankers tend to let their wallets guide their voting choices and next month's British national election will likely be no exception.

Faced with the prospect of a Labour government that would hike the top rate of income tax to 50% and extract a levy from their bonuses, most financiers are rooting for the re-election of David Cameron's Conservatives, even though that would mean a potentially damaging referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union (EU) before the end of 2017.

The mere threat of Britain leaving the EU could seriously damage London's standing as Europe's financial hub, but many bankers would prefer to deal with the uncertainty and campaign for a "Yes" vote than see Labour's Ed Miliband voted prime minister on May 7.