By Oliver Tallis
Nationally MPs are in the firing line for their earnings outside of Parliament again after former minister Owen Paterson resigned after breaking lobbying rules.
The county’s biggest earner is John Stevenson who pocketed more than £40,000 from his involvement with Bendles Solicitors.
Two other MPs Mark Jenkinson and Neil Hudson reported earnings outside of Parliament, with Neil Hudson also being paid £200 for an hour-long survey.
MPs Tim Farron, Simon Fell and Mark Jenkinson received donations or donations in kind with a combined value of more than £200,000.
Mark Jenkinson bagged a box at Ascot and tickets to England’s Euros semi-final against Denmark from two gambling organisations this summer.
Trudy Harrison was the only MP, not declaring any earnings or donations beyond her salary.
MPs declared their earnings and unpaid positions on the Register of Members’ Financial Interests – a publicly available document – there is no suggestion Cumbria’s contingent have broken any rules.
Full Breakdown:
Tim Farron, Liberal Democrat MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale.
Mr Farron declared almost £125,000 of donations in kind on the most recent register.
This came in the form of PR advice, policy advisers and an intern from Faith in Public, an organisation he set up to research and promote the role of religion in politics, and The Refugee, Asylum and Migration Policy Project.
As a former leader of the Lib Dems, he also received honorary life membership to the National Liberal Club worth £735 per annum plus a £367.50 entrance fee.
Membership of this historic private members’ club allows access to the ornate London clubhouse as well as its active social calendar.
Mr Farron is also an Advisory Board member of BOMAD Investments Limited, an affordable housing scheme – the role is unpaid.
Simon Fell, Conservative MP for Barrow and Furness.
While not having any direct earnings, Mr Fell declared donations in kind worth £10,100.
These were from the Cayzer Trust Company, a private company through which the wealthy Cayzer family pursue their commercial interests, and IX Wireless Limited, a telecommunications infrastructure provider.
Both companies feature heavily on the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, IX Wireless are named 22 times and Cayzer five – almost exclusively in relation to Northern Conservative MPs.
Mr Fell is also a member of the Town Board for Barrow, an unpaid position.
Trudy Harrison, Conservative MP for Copeland.
Mrs Harrison hasn’t declared any earnings. Her only unpaid roles were as a member of the Cleator Moor Towns Deal Board and the Millom Towns Deal Board.
Neil Hudson, Conservative MP for Penrith and The Border.
Dr Hudson was paid £200 for taking part in an hour-long survey for Ipsos MORI; his only declared earning.
Originally an equine vet, he holds a range of unpaid positions relating to his former profession.
These are as a fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, a member of the British Equine Veterinary Association and a member of the British Horseracing Authority Whip Review Steering Group.
He is also on unpaid sabbatical leave as a senior lecturer from the University of Edinburgh.
Mark Jenkinson, Conservative MP for Workington
As well as being paid £280.55 a month for his role as a councillor on Allerdale Borough Council; Mr Jenkinson was paid £930 by YouGov and £550 by Ipsos MORI for undertaking surveys.
He was given a £5,544.24 discount for the hire of a Mini from Lloyd Cockermouth Mini plus decals valued at £120.
Preston-based IX Wireless Limited donated £3,500 in kind.
A businessman formerly of Maryport, Michael Wombwell donated more than £80,000 of donation or in-kind donation to Mr Jenkinson.
Almost £17,000 of this was used to distribute books to primary school children and hampers to veterans.
The remaining £67,000 was received directly on March 30.
In June the Betting and Gaming Council gifted Mr Jenkinson a hospitality box at Ascot Races valued at £1,400.
In July Entain Operations, one of the world’s largest sports betting and gaming groups, gave him a ticket and hospitality for the England v Denmark Euros semi-final football match, worth £3,457. The company is based overseas in Gibraltar.
Mr Jenkinson also reported holding over 15% of the issued share capital for Jolievue Holdings limited and is an unpaid member of Workington Town Deal Board.
John Stevenson, Conservative MP for Carlisle
Mr Stevenson is a solicitor and partner at Carlisle law firm Bendles.
For working between 10 and 45 hours a week Mr Stevenson is paid £33,600 a year.
On top of this, he received £13,500 in four instalments as a profit share for no additional hours.
He was the only MP in Cumbria to declare land and property worth more than £100,000 or a rental income over £10,000.
He has a shared interest in a holiday let in Ambleside and until December 2020 had shared interest in one commercial property in Carlisle.
Mr Stevenson also declared two unpaid roles as a member of the Carlisle Towns Fund Board and as director of the Northern Research Group Limited, a shared services company for Northern MPs.
He also employs his partner Tracy Nixon as a part-time senior secretary.
All declarations are correct as of November 1, 2021.
