By Julian Robinson for MailOnline The former Conservative Cabinet Minister Owen Paterson, sacked from the role by David Cameron last month, has been 'treated to lunch' by a millionaire Ukip donor, it has been claimed. Mr Paterson, who was axed by the Prime Minister as Environment Secretary in July, reportedly dined with Crispin Odey, a hedge fund boss. The lunch meeting was revealed just days after Tory MP Douglas Carswell defected to Ukip and resigned from Parliament - sparking a crunch by-election. Scroll down for video Owen Paterson (left) reportedly dined with Crispin Odey (right), a hedge fund boss, along with seven other Eurosceptic Conservative MPs
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Owen Paterson reportedly dined with a millionaire Ukip donor, it is claimed
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Former Cabinet Minister was axed as Environment Secretary last month
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Reports claim he had lunch with hedge fund boss Crispin Odey last autumn
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Revelation comes just days after Tory Douglas Carswell defected to Ukip
In the past, Mr Odey, of Odey Asset Management, has criticised @placeholder claiming he 'doesn't understand power and he doesn't use it'.