Labour MPs took £35,000 in gifts from striking unions

2022-12-25

Labour MPs took £35,000 in gifts from striking unions over just three years… including junkets abroad, analysis shows

During Starmer’s leadership, Labour has received £15million in donations
Striking unions have gifted the party over £35,000 in gifts and hospitality
It is not illegal but does show the closeness between unions and Labour

Labour frontbenchers and MPs have accepted more than £35,000 in gifts and hospitality from striking unions over the past three years, an audit reveals.

Union barons leading walkouts in the ambulance service, Royal Mail and railways have bankrolled junkets abroad, dinners, food and drink at receptions, and lavish hotel stays.

The Daily Mail analysis shows more than £25,000-worth of the gifts and hospitality have come since Sir Keir Starmer replaced Jeremy Corbyn. It is in addition to the £15million in donations the party has accepted from striking unions since Sir Keir became leader.

While it is not suggested the MPs have done anything illegal, it does show the closeness between the unions and Labour at a time of highly disruptive industrial action.

Jonathan Ashworth, the party’s work and pensions spokesman, transport spokesman Louise Haigh and employment spokesman Justin Madders, went to Madrid at the expense of the Trades Union Congress. The three-day expenses-paid trip in October, collectively worth nearly £7,000

Tory MPs last night said it proved the unions were Labour’s ‘paymasters’.

The analysis shows Rachel Hopkins, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, accepted dinner and a seat at the table of the Aslef rail union for two glitzy events this year.

One was the British Kebab Awards and the other was the East and South East Asians for Labour Dinner. Both were worth more than £300.

Aslef, alongside the militant RMT, has brought chaos to the railways since their strike campaigns began this summer.

Labour justice spokesman Steve Reed took £430 from the GMB for ‘refreshments at a reception in Parliament’ in April. GMB is one of the unions behind the ambulance strikes.

Lisa Nandy, the party’s levelling-up spokesman, accepted a four-night hotel stay from the Communication Workers Union (CWU) to attend Labour’s annual conference in September. It was worth £1,480

Rachel Hopkins, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, accepted dinner and a seat at the table of the Aslef rail union for two glitzy events this year

Kim Johnson, MP for Liverpool, Riverside, accepted a jaunt to Colombia from Justice for Colombia, an organisation set up by trade unions and funded by them. The week-long trip, worth £2,345, was in May and involved monitoring human rights.

Lisa Nandy, the party’s levelling-up spokesman, accepted a four-night hotel stay from the Communication Workers Union (CWU) to attend Labour’s annual conference in September. It was worth £1,480. The CWU has wreaked havoc on Britain’s postal system with Royal Mail strikes. Deputy leader Angela Rayner has accepted more than £750-worth of rail tickets and hotel stays from Unison and NASUWT to speak at union events this year, including the Durham Miners Gala.

Deputy leader Angela Rayner has accepted more than £750-worth of rail tickets and hotel stays from Unison and NASUWT to speak at union events this year, including the Durham Miners Gala

Labour justice spokesman Steve Reed took £430 from the GMB for ‘refreshments at a reception in Parliament’ in April

In total, Labour MPs have had £21,178-worth of hotel stays bankrolled by union barons for attending the annual party conference since 2019, including £12,818-worth since Sir Keir took over. Details of the freebies are listed in the MPs’ register of interests.

Separately, trade unions have donated £15.28milion to the party, constituency groups and to its MPs since spring 2020.

Tory MP Chris Loder said: ‘It is clear Labour is in bed with union leaders, not just to fully disrupt our railways, but to drive at full speed their December of disruption. If ever we needed proof that Labour are in the pockets of their union paymasters, then this is it.’

The Labour Party was contacted for comment.

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