The register of interests, a mechanism used by MPs to record incomes in addition to their pay, reveals that MPs in the region have earned thousands of pounds via consultancy work and have been handed gifts such as Glastonbury tickets and handbags for more than £400.
Royston Smith, the Conservative MP for Southampton Itchen, received £16,000 in consulting fees from Hampshire-based landowners Barker Mill Estates. Despite the fact that the work was completed between May and December 2021, payment for the services was recorded this year. A total of 80 hours of labour spread over seven months equates to £200 per hour.
Genting Casinos also gave the MP two free tickets to the Tottenham against Southampton game on February 6th, worth a total of £600, and another two free tickets to the Saints at Crystal Palace game, worth a total of £700. This year, Mr Smith got a total of £17,300 in wages and gifts. When queried about it by the Daily Echo, he remarked, “Everything appears to be in order.”
Caroline Nokes, Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North, has been appointed as a policy consultant for the Refugee, Asylum, and Migration Policy Project (RAMP). Mrs Nokes is projected to earn over £35,000 for her employment, which began in November 2021 and will last until May 2023. Recycled clothing business Recycledby also sent the Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee a second-hand LK Bennett dress worth £225 and a second-hand Marc Jacobs purse worth £450.
She was also given tickets to sports games and festivals, including two Glastonbury tickets worth £2,600 from PRS for Music in July. Mrs Nokes is anticipated to have received a total of £40,313 in wages and gifts.
Channel 4 sent Paul Holmes, Tory MP for Eastleigh, to a night out at the Bafta TV Awards in May, with a £772 ticket. Conservative Friends of Israel Ltd also paid for his £3,100 journey to Israel and the West Bank on a “fact-finding political expedition” from July 24 to 29. Mr Holmes received £3,872 in total this year.
Meanwhile, Suella Braverman, MP for Fareham and Home Secretary, received a £10,000 gift from First Corporate Consultants during her Tory leadership bid. During the promotion, she was also offered a £2,000 discount on digital services. Other gifts or privileges include two £900 tickets to the England vs. Germany game at Wembley Stadium on September 26.
Earnings and gifts are estimated to total £13,250.48 for the Home Secretary. Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton Test, only had to account for his holiday property in Devon. The Echo asked all five MPs for comment, but only Royston Smith responded.
The House of Commons is an elected body made up of 650 members of Parliament (MPs). MPs are chosen to represent constituencies using the first-past-the-post electoral system and serve until Parliament is dissolved.
At Truoosh, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to on our site, Truoosh may earn commission.
