Flamboyant, feisty and passionate about gay rights

Ian Thomas runs an independent contract publishing house specialising in student and ethnic minority titles.

Mr Thomas, who is believed to live in Clapham, studied business and marketing at Liverpool Polytechnic in 1992. Sugar Media, which he runs from a small office complex in Hackney, produces publications including the magazine for Black History Month, Student Times and Mela - a guide to Asian community festivals. The publishing house relies heavily on public sector advertising targeting young people and minority groups.

Mr Thomas and Isabel Appio, former editorial director of The Voice Group, formed the company in 2000. Their website states that Sugar Media set out to "be a leader in the advocacy for education & training opportunities for people of all ages as well as the promotion of opportunities and information for a multi-cultural Britain and beyond."

Mr Thomas, who is gay, describes himself as "flamboyant" on the website and lists his interests as sailing and travelling.

A former colleague said: "He is no shrinking violet and is known in publishing as a feisty character. Both he and Isabel are very passionate about Left-wing issues and gay rights. It's hard to imagine why he would go to a reception of such a Right-wing MP like Eric Pickles, whose voting record shows he is no supporter of gay rights."