City MP minister returns donation to pharmacy boss

THE Home Secretary and Birmingham MP Shabana Mahmood has returned a cash donation to a businessman who is in charge of £60m worth of government spending in Walsall.

- RACHEL ALEXANDER

Ms Mahmood received £2,500 from Manjit Jhooty, CEO of the Jhoots pharmacy group. Mr Jhooty is also the chairman for regeneration boards in Darlaston, Walsall and Bloxwich, where each town has been granted £20m worth of funding.

Walsall Council, which appointed Mr Jhooty, explains it is an unpaid position and that any chair donates their time voluntarily.

In recent months, Jhoots Pharmacy has been making the news with allegations of staff going without pay and branches being closed.

All 150 Jhoots Pharmacies are owned by either Manjit or Sarbjit Jhooty, two brothers based in Walsall.

Manjit insists that all of his 21 stores are not affected by the problems and remain open as usual.