North East MPs accept tens of thousands in donations -see full list

Sky News, in partnership with Tortoise Media, has created a database listing all declared gifts, earnings, donations and other benefits entering the accounts of MPs across the country.

Already the programme has revealed some startling revelations as to who has received the most benefits.

Theresa May currently sits at the top with approximately £2.8 million donations, earnings, gifts and other benefits since December 19, 2019.

Sir Geoffrey Cox sits close behind with £2.1 million declared since December 19, 2019.

Looking at the larger picture, the Conservative Party sits at the top for receiving the most donations, earnings and other benefits with £76 million.

Read more: North East MPs receive donations from broadband firm IX Wireless

Looking at a North East perspective, however, the highest-earning MP is currently a Labour MP.

Ian Mearns, MP for Gateshead, has declared donations, earnings, gifts and other benefits to a total of approximately £80,570 since December 19, 2019.

The biggest donation he declared was £42,960 from the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT).

Mr Means said he “fundamentally” disagreed with MPs taking up paid employment outside of their role.

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He added: “I have not and will not take any money for paid employment outside of my salary as an MP for the time that I represent the people of Gateshead, and I have not and will not benefit “financially from any such donations. I have not received any monies directly from any third party since my election to Parliament in 2010.”

However, he stressed that he was “incredibly disappointed” with the way the data has been framed, adding that he had not received “any of the money” directly to him.

He said: “I’m incredibly disappointed with the way the data on earnings has been framed. The vast majority of the financial support included in my Register of Interest’s takes the form of funding for specific Parliamentary Groups which I Chair.

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“The notional donation is paid to organisations which support the Parliamentary Groups which are often supported by many MP’s in Parliament, yet is required to be registered by me personally, as Chair of the groups in question. 

“The remaining donations have been made to my Constituency Labour Party to help fund the General Election Campaign in 2019. 

“I have not received any of the money listed directly personally to me, nor do I receive a direct benefit from the donations save for the welcome support for campaigning materials during election time. 

“I will be raising the conflation of the different types of payments with the House of Commons, and I strongly object to the representation that donations for secretariat support are akin to paid employment earnings.” 

The conservative MP to receive the most donations, earnings and other benefits was Darlington MP Peter Gibson with £58,790 declared.

The Northern Echo contacted Mr Gibson for comment however we have not yet received a reply.

Mr Gibson is followed closely behind by Bishop Auckland MP Dehenna Davison who has declared £50,430.

Bridget Phillipson, Labour MP for Houghton and Sunderland South, stressed that all her donations go towards “local political campaigning” after she declared £48,960.

She added: “MPs’ offices receive donations within the law. There are strict rules that govern who who can donate and the sums that they are allowed to donate.

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“This information is fully available to the public and I have always been very transparent about the nature of my donations.

“All my donations go towards local political campaigning in my Houghton and Sunderland South constituency and towards funding the salaries of staff who support me in my role as Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary.”

See the full list of donations, gifts and other benefits to North East MPs below, including some of the higher donations to each:

Peter Gibson:

• £58,790 overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £11,500 of those donations from an Andrew J Dawber
• £9,500 in donations from a Morgan Crest

Dehenna Davison:

• £50,430 overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £15,820 are earnings from GB News

Jacob Young:

• £13, 920 overall donations overall since December 19, 2019
• £5,000 in donations from John James
• £5,000 in donations from Laurance Tomlison

Simon Clarke:

• £21,750 overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £8,000 in donations from Gary Lydiate
• £5,000 in donations from Alexander Temerko

Paul Howell:

• £14,780 overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £7,500 in donations from IX Wireless
• £2,970 earnings from Durham County Council

Richard Holden

• £19,920 overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £9,000 in donations from Fat Badger Harrogate (UK)
• £7,500 in donations from IX Wireless

Jill Mortimer:

• £18,320 overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £5,000 in donations from The Carlton Club
• £5,000 in donations from Stalbury Trustees

Matt Vickers

• £50,900 overall donated since December 19, 2019
• £10,000 in donations from The United and Cecil Club
• £9,000 in donations from The Calton Club

Ian Levy:

• £15,700 overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £5,000 in donations from IX Wireless
• £5,000 in donations from Ian Mukherjee

Guy Opperman:

• £24,500 overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £7,500 in donations from Gary Lydiate
• £5,000 in donations from London and Northern Dining Club

Anne-Marie Trevelyan

• £15,000 overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £10,000 in donations from Aquind
• £5,000 in donations from Gary Lydiate

Alex Cunningham:

• £9,750 donations overall since December 19, 2019
• £2,790 earnings from YouGov
• £2,000 in donations from National Union of Rail Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT)

Mary Kelly Foy

• £10, 510 in donations overall since December 19, 2019
• £10,510 in donations from Unite

Kevan Jones:

• £2,500 overall since December 19, 2019
• £2,500 in donations from GMB Union

Andy McDonald

• £11,170 overall since December 19, 2019
• £6,000 in donations from National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT)
• £5,170 gifts or benefits and donations from Unite

Grahame Morris

• £67,970 overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £34,920 in donations from National Union of Journalists (NUJ)
• £34,450 in donations from Fire Brigades Union (FBU)
• £7,890 in gifts or benefits and donations from Unite

Sir Alan Campbell

• £2,650 overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £2,000 in donations from Community Union
• £600 in donations from Ipsos MORI

Julie Elliott

• £900 overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £900 in donations, gifts or benefits from R&A Championships

Mary Glindon:

• £32,270  overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £10,750 in donations from Humankind
• £10,750 in donations from Westminster Drug Project (WDP)
• £10,750 in donations from We Are With You

Sharon Hodgson:

• £9,180 overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £4,000 in donations from The Communications Workers Union (CWU)
• £3,450 in Gifts or benefits from Betting and Gaming Council (BGC)
• £1,340 in Gifts or benefits from Friends of the British Overseas Territories

Ian Lavery:

• £21,880 overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £10,880 in gifts benefits and donations from Unite.
• £5,000 in donations from National Union of Rail Maritime and Transport Workers

Emma Lewell-Buck

• £5,810 overall since December 19, 2019
• £2,500 in donations from GMB Union
• £1,820 earnings from YouGov

Catherine McKinnell

• £10,140 overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £5,260 in donations from Unison
• £3,000 *in donations from Charlie Parsons Creative

Ian Mearns

• £80,570 overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £42,960 in donations from National Union of Rail Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT)
• £32,610 in donations from Bakers and Allied Food Workers Union
• £5,000 in donations from Unite

Chi Onwurah

• £4,870 overall since December 19, 2019
• £1,250 in gifts or benefits from Association of Marshall Scholars
• £900 earnings from Ipsos MORI
• £900 in gifts or benefits from The British Phonographic Industry (BPI)

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Kate Osborne

• £7,390 overall since December 19, 2019
• £7,000 donations from Unite
• £300 in gifts or benefits from Soccer Aid Productions

Bridget Phillipson

• £48,960 overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £15,000 in donations from Jim Murphy
• £10,000 in donations from Paul Callaghan
• £10,000 in donations from Trevor Chinn

Liz Twist:

• £13,090 overall donations since December 19, 2019
• £9,530 in donations from Unison
• £2,000 in donations from Gainford Care Homes
• £500 earnings from YouGov