MP denies donation by mayoral campaign

QUESTIONS are again being asked about political donations connected to the campaign for an elected mayor after a Plymouth MP denied receiving £10,000.

- By WILLIAM TELFORD

The Mayor for Plymouth website says campaign founder Angus Forbes gave £10,000 to current Labour MP Luke Pollard and former Tory MP Johnny Mercer last year.

But Mr Pollard told The Herald he has not received any cash from Mr Forbes or the campaign - and would reject it if a donation was offered. He said Mr Forbes had made a donation of £8,000 to the national Labour Party, which is not the same as giving it to him.

With a referendum coming this summer on whether Plymouth should move to a system controlled by a directly elected mayor (DEM), Mr Forbes said: “I donated £10,000 via Luke Pollard’s official website, and he is 100% aware of this. I have the blue ticks on my Whatsapp to prove it.”