FAITH groups and businessmen are among the donors to MPs in south Cumbria.
The latest parliamentary records have show that MPs Simon Fell, Tim Farron and Trudy Harrison have all received backing worth thousands of pounds.
The religious Mr Farron, who represents the South Lakes, received £65,000 from Faith in Public for two policy advisors and a public relations company. He also received an estimated £9,000 from the Good Faith Partnership for a separate policy advisor.
This year the Lib Dem MP has received around £50,000 in private donations, including £15,000 from Carnforth holiday park group Pure Leisure. He made £4,000 from his memoirs, published last year.
Barrow and Furness MP Simon Fell has received almost £20,000 in donations.
This includes £2,500 made the Conservative Carlton Club and Keith Knowles of accommodation company Beds and Bars.
Copeland’s Conservative MP Trudy Harrison’s registered interests showed she had received a free office from her husband’s company. She also received a free trip to San Francisco as part of an educational visit to Silicon Valley.
On top of that Mrs Harrison received £12,000 in donations, including £5,000 from the Cayzer Trust, owned by billionaire businessman Charles Cayzer.
The MPs explained the money contributed to vital constituency work.
Mr Farron said: “I’m required to declare donations to the local Liberal Democrats or my parliamentary office on my register of interests that are above £1,500 – but I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who donates, no matter how much, to help us win for our community.
“This money has helped us fight our campaigns to bring cancer services to our hospital and save our mental health ward. It’s also helped us complete well over 100,000 pieces of casework for local people.”
Mrs Harrison said: “All donations towards my election campaign with the Copeland Conservatives are declared in the usual way.
“Business trips last year included the 4th Industrial Revolution visit to Silicon Valley which was helpful in understanding how we educate and prepare our young people for the future. As part of the visit, meetings were held with Uber, Google and defence company Lockheed Martin. Creativity and problem solving were attributes that were cited as being desirable when recruiting.
Mr Fell said: “Everything has been registered to ensure complete transparency and is in line with the declaration that was made to the Electoral Commission following December’s General Election.”
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