Report: 14 UK MPs Given Over £250K in Campaign Donations

Facts

• According to a database known as the Westminster Accounts, fourteen UK MPs have been given between £250k - £752.8k ($304k - $915k) each towards various campaigns and causes since the last general election in December 2019.
• The database also shows that, collectively, Westminster MPs have made £17.1M from work outside of parliament since the last election. Former PM Theresa May reportedly received approximately £2.8M on top of her salary since 2019, the most of any MP.
• All MPs are paid a base salary of around £84k. The data showed that most of the extra earnings went to Conservative politicians, totaling £15.2M, while Labour received an additional £1.2M, with Labour shadow foreign secretary David Lammy receiving over £202k — the most out of his party.
• The database is the product of a nine-month collaboration between Tortoise Media and Sky News that looks into money flow within UK politics. Since the beginning of the current parliament, £183M worth of outside earnings, donations, and other sources of funds have entered the House of Commons.
• Leader of the opposition and the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer has received the most campaign donations at over £752k, followed by PM Rishi Sunak with more than £547k.
• While many donations seemingly stem from sources with little public information, there are no concerns of malpractice by anyone involved. Sunak, however, stated that "transparency is really important" and rules must be "adhered to."

Sources: Sky, Independent, Kentonline, Tortoise Media, V2radio, and Express.

Narratives

• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Mirror. Figures show that only 35% trust the government, and only a quarter think politicians would refuse jobs in exchange for political favors. While the Westminster Accounts may not show any signs of illegal practice, there needs to be greater scrutiny of Westminster, which has been plagued by scandals.
• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Telegraph. As long as politicians act within the realms of legality and morality, the public should be profoundly disinterested if their representatives have personal interests, receive donations, or have second jobs. While those that make a fuss out of the matter may feel virtuous, in reality, the only consequence that occurs from such a self-righteous judgment is an increase in unnecessary hostility towards politicians.