Premier League side West Ham United donated £9,000 of club money to the Conservative Party in 2022, according to new documents released by the Electoral Commission.
The Hammers also donated £12,500 back in 2016 - the only other listed donation from the club since their current owners took charge in 2010. West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady, who previously served as a director with Birmingham City, has been a Conservative peer since 2014.
News of the latest donation from West Ham comes after Hammers co-owner David Sullivan slammed the government over plans for an independent football regulator. The donation itself, however, came during the intervening period.
As detailed in the Electoral Commission's political finance register, West Ham's donation was made on September 26 and accepted by the Conservative Party on October 3. This was during Liz Truss ' brief premiership, with the former Prime Minister leaving her post at the end of that month.
Data from the Electoral Commission reveals UK political parties received more than £14,779,158 in donations in the fourth quarter of 2022. The Tories, with £4,744,114, account for the biggest chunk of the overall total.
West Ham aren't the only football club to have donated to the Conservatives in 2022, according to the same data. Peterborough United, in League One, made a £5,000 donation which was both made and accepted in May.
“A football regulator is a terrible idea," Hammers co-owner Sullivan said amid reports to that end (via The Star ). "The government is terrible at running everything.
“Look at the mess this country is in. We pay the highest taxes ever for the worst service from the worst government that I’ve seen in my lifetime … Why does an incompetent government think it will improve things?
“In every area this government is involved in, it has added staff for a worse service. The government is doing this for a PR win. They think it will be good PR to be seen backing the ordinary football fan and smaller clubs but I bet you it won’t get them a single extra vote. I believe in free enterprise, not government interference.”
On the pitch, West Ham are struggling towards the bottom of the Premier League. The Hammers finished in the top half in each of the last two seasons, though, and remain in the Europa Conference League as the competition enters the round of 16 stage.
“As a private company, West Ham United make donations to a number of organisations and charities," a spokesperson for the Hammers said, per The Guardian. "Our donations often relate, as is the case here, to attending events that are of interest to our key sponsors and partners.”
Sullivan, who is West Ham's largest shareholder, hit out at the Conservatives after reports of a football regulator came to light. His co-owners include Czech businessman Daniel Kretinsky, while The Guardian reports that the 25% stake held by David Gold - who died earlier in 2023 - is expected to pass to the family of the late businessman.
