Robert Jenrick has defended receiving £75,000 from a company registered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) despite criticising Labour over the freebies row.
The Tory leadership contender told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that the firm “as I understand it… is a fitness company that operates in the UK”, and the donation was “perfectly legal and valid”.
Politics Live: Tory leadership candidates faced questions on Sky News
Mr Jenrick spoke to Sky News alongside the three other rivals to replace Rishi Sunak, as the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham kicks off.
Asked about the donations from The Spott Fitness, which have been declared on his MPs’ register of interests, Mr Jenrick said: “As I understand it, this is a fitness company that operates in the UK.
“It’s a perfectly legal and valid donation under British law and we’ve set it out in the public domain in the way that one does with donations.”
Pressed for details on who owns the company and who works for it, the former immigration minister said the details would be set out “on Companies House in the normal way”.
He added he has “obviously met people who are involved in the company” – but pressed on who they are repeated that “it’s all on Companies House”.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
‘I will swing back’
He added: “It’s a perfectly valid and normal donation.
“What people are criticising Labour for is actually rather different to what you’re suggesting.
“Labour are being criticised for their rank hypocrisy that they spent years complaining about other political parties and then they’ve chosen to take off donors and cronies and to give passes to Number 10 in response.”
The Labour Party Conference in Liverpool last week was overshadowed by a donation and freebies row, after it emerged Sir Keir Starmer accepted over £100,000 in gifts since 2019.
Questions have been raised in particular over the large amount given by Labour peer and TV executive Lord Waheed Alli, who had a pass to Number 10 for a short time in order to attend meetings, the government said.
Leave a Reply