City donations worth £15m raise concerns over influence on UK politics

The skyline of the City of London. The Conservative party was the largest recipient of City donations to political parties, accounting for more than £11m. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

Concerns have been raised over the City’s influence on Westminster, after a report found financial firms and individuals tied to the sector donated £15m to political parties and gave £2m to MPs during the pandemic.

The campaign group Positive Money tallied the gifts, expenses and donations handed to MPs, peers and their parties, as well as the value of income from politicians’ second jobs, saying it contributed to finance’s “oversized influence” on policymaking.