Transparency campaigners have hailed an investigation into the flow of money into Westminster as a “wake-up call” for British politics.
The months-long investigation by Sky News and the Tortoise news website has resulted in the launch of a new database of political donations and MPs’ outside earnings.
The database, called the Westminster Accounts, compiles records from the MPs’ Register of Interests, the Electoral Commission and other official registers and aims to provide a comprehensive picture of the financing of British politics since the last election.
Millionaire Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who earned £500K-plus from outside earnings, welcomed the database.
He said: “I think transparency is really important for the healthy functioning of democracy, it’s absolutely right that there’s disclosures around donations and outside interests.”
So what are our MPs’ outside earnings? Here’s the info, all from the Tortoise / Sky News database
Rachael Maskell, York Central Labour MP
- Declared five financial interests since 2019
- Worth £11,000
- From four different sources
- the RMT union (£3,000)
- the GMB union (£2,000)
- Owen Trotter (£4,000)
- Richard Hewison (£2,000).
Challenged in the past on her RMT payment, Ms Maskell said Labour was proud of its trade union links, but questioned whether it should be raised on the floor of the Commons two years after the donation. The deputy speaker replied to say that “transparency and honesty are always best”.
Julian Sturdy, York Outer Conservative MP
- Declared 37 financial interests since 2019
- Worth £17,560
- All from one source
- the G E Sturdy and Son (£17,560)
- The largest single item Mr Sturdy has declared is £500 in secondary earnings from G E Sturdy and Son
- The smallest single item is £100 in secondary earnings also from G E Sturdy and Son.
As we reported last June, Mr Sturdy is a director in the family firm GE Sturdy & Son, from which he declares a yearly income.
Nigel Adams, Selby and Ainsty Conservative MP
- Declared 12 financial interests since 2019
- Worth £46,980
- From 12 different sources
- Nigel Clack (£13,000)
- Andrew Baxter (£10,000)
- Jamaica Tourist Board (£3,950)
- Entain Holdings – sports betting and gaming company (£3,450)
- Charles Forbes Adam – owner of the Escrick Park estate (£3,000)
- Simon Chappell (£2,600)
- Ian Pattison (£2,500)
- Lawrence Tomlinson (£2,000)
- Betting and Gaming Council (£1,990)
- Power Leisure Bookmakers (£1,960)
- Adam Beaumont (£1,900)
- Heineken (£600)
Kevin Hollinrake, Thirsk and Malton Conservative MP
- Declared seven financial interests since 2019
- Worth £105,600
- From four sources
- Hunters Property Plc – the firm he co-founded (£104,300)
- City Airport (£500)
- R&A Championships (£400)
- The Royal & Ancient Golf Club (£300)
Julian Smith, Skipton and Ripon Conservative MP
- Declared 41 financial interests since 2019
- Worth £160,600
- From seven sources – these are the top five:
- Hygen Energy (£87,900)
- MJM Marine (£39,350)
- Simply Blue Management (UK) (£20,580)
- Leon Furlong (£5,000)
- John D Sumner (£5,000)
Sir Robert Goodwill, Scarborough and Whitby Conservative MP
- Declared four financial interests since 2019
- Worth £25,200
- From four sources:
- John Guthrie (£10,000)
- Toby Glaysher (£10,000)
- Nick Thomas (£5,000)
- Ipsos MORI (£200)
Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP
- Declared two financial interests since 2019
- Worth £5,500
- From two sources:
- John Cotton (£3,000)
- Andrew Thirkill (£2,500)
Rishi Sunak, Richmond Conservative MP
- Declared 37 financial interests since 2019
- Worth £546,000
- From 29 sources – these are the top five:
- Chris Rea (£100,000)
- Dean R Benson (£50,000)
- Yoginvest (£50,000)
- Lord Michael Farmer (£38,750)
- Adam Bates (£30,000).
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