Details of donations made to MPs

Request

In the latest Register of Members’ Financial Interests, the Prime Minister lists accommodation he accepted on the luxury private island resort of Mustique over the Christmas period as a benefit in kind valued at £15,000.

This is in keeping with the House of Commons’ Code of Conduct, which states in Chapter 1, paragraph 33, that Members must register: “Any travel or hospitality received in the course of a visit outside the UK, if it relates in any way to their membership of the House or to their parliamentary or political activities, including: … b) hospitality, including hotel or other accommodation, and meals”.

The Code of Conduct is also clear that when registering such a donation, Members are required to provide, among other details, “The name and address of the person or organisation funding the visit” (Chapter 1, paragraph 36).

The Prime Minister has listed a Mr David Ross as the name of the person who funded his accommodation. However, as reported by the Daily Mail (February 13, 2020), a spokesperson for Mr Ross has categorically denied that he funded the Prime Minister’s accommodation, rather he acted as a point of contact.

The Code of Conduct requires Members to provide the name of the person or organisation that actually funded a donation. The evidence suggests it was not David Ross, contradicting the Prime Minister’s entry. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson insisted:

“All transparency requirements have been followed, as set out in the register of members’ financial interests”.

A number of questions of public concern still need urgently answering:

  • If all transparency requirements have been followed, what is the source of the discrepancy between the account provided by Mr Ross and the Prime Minister’s insistence that the rules have been followed?

  • Did the Prime Minister accept the £15,000 donation without full knowledge of its true source

  • If the entry is incorrect, did the Prime Minister knowingly make a false entry into the Register

  • Who was the true source of the £15,000 donation?


Response

This information is not held by IPSA, which only deals with MPs’ expense claims.

Questions about MPs’ receipt of donations and the Code of Conduct should be made to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

Ref:
RFI-202006-7
Disclosure:
16 June 2020
Categories:
NOT IPSA'S REMIT
Exemptions Applied: