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Daily Record
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Scots MP blasted for accepting cash donation from lobbyist
The donation came from a company owned by one of the country's top lobbyists. A Scottish MP is being urged to explain why she accepted a cash donation from a political lobbyist. Lib Dem MP Susan Murray received a £2000 donation from MFGC Holdings Ltd just three weeks after her election. The firm is owned by Mark Cummings – an ex-East Dunbartonshire Tory party chairman – who now runs one of Scotland's most prolific lobbying firms, Invicta Public Affairs. Invicta advocates for clients including supermarket giant Lidl, Graeme Souness 's firm Orchard Brae and housebuilders Miller Homes. Anti-corruption group Transparency International has demanded the rules be tightened. Juliet Swann, its nations and regions programme manager said: ' Lobbyists should not be making payments to elected officials and Parliament needs to do more to make this activity more open and accountable.' Mid Dunbartonshire MP Murray's register of interests shows she declared the £2000 donation last July 30 – three weeks after the General Election. The Scottish Lib Dems claimed the donation was from a 'long term supporter of the party' but according to the Electoral Commission MFGC donated £6000 to the Tories just six weeks earlier, on May 22. MFGC also sponsored Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie's Christmas cards last year and, in 2023, took now-Tory leader Russell Findlay and fellow Tory MSP Murdo Fraser to the Scottish FA Cup semi-final at Hampden. Invicta, owned by MFGC, donated £2400 to Scottish Labour in April last year and gave the Tories £12,000 in 2018, the Electoral Commission said. Invicta is one of the most active lobbying firms in Scotland, recording 227 incidences of lobbying parliamentarians since 2018. It has also hired a number of politicians including former SNP MP Richard Thomson, who is its Scotland Associate Director, ex-SNP MSP Richard Lyle – a consultant who attends meetings with MSPs – and current Tory MSP Stephen Kerr, who was a consultant until 2021. Lyle came under fire last year when it emerged he had been using a pass provided to former MSPs to access Holyrood. Asked about the donation to Murray, Cummings said: 'I live in the constituency that Susan Murray MP now represents. I supported her election campaign because I felt she was the best candidate for the job. 'I understand Susan has declared my donation in line with all relevant legislation.' Asked if he was now a Lib Dem supporter, he did not comment. A Scottish Lib Dem spokesman said: 'The firm in question belongs to a long term supporter of the party. All donations are recorded and declared in line with the relevant legislation.'
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sir Elton John praises Irish band Kneecap for being ‘political' with their music
Sir Elton John has spoken of his admiration for Irish band Kneecap and their 'energy' and 'vitality'. The rap trio from West Belfast are known for merging Irish and English in their music alongside politically charged and satirical lyrics. Speaking to broadcaster Nick Grimshaw on BBC Radio 6 Music, the 77-year old musician said: 'I saw a video of them, and I just was so knocked out, by the energy they had and the vitality they had. 'They're just extraordinary and they, what they talk about is political, and there's not many bands that do that. 'So, yeah, I love them. I love the energy. I love everything about them.' Kneecap is made up of Mo Chara, whose real name is Liam Og O hAnnaidh, Moglai Bap, whose real name is Naoise O Caireallain, and DJ Provai, whose full name is JJ O Dochartaigh. The band has received some criticism and censorship over their music and was in dispute with now-Tory leader Kemi Badenoch when the group launched a discrimination case. The trio were blocked by the former Conservative government from receiving a grant aimed at supporting UK artists, despite their application being successful. The Department of Business and Trade, which was headed by Ms Badenoch at the time, said they did not want to give taxpayers' money to people who 'oppose the United Kingdom itself'. The group took legal action against the government, claiming the decision was discriminatory and won in November 2024, receiving £14,250 – the total amount of the original grant. The trio donated the money to two youth organisations in Belfast, splitting it between a nationalist and a unionist area. In 2024, the band released an eponymous debut film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender which is a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together. The film was nominated for six Baftas and took home the award for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer. It was also among the big winners at the Irish Film and Television Academy (Ifta), scooping four awards including best director for Rich Peppiatt. Sir Elton, known for hit songs Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer and I'm Still Standing, also spoke about still getting nervous before releasing new music. Sir Elton said: 'All the time. Oh, it never goes away. When you play new tracks for people, you still feel the same as you did when I was playing Empty Sky, my first album to somebody. It never goes away, nor should it. Fear is the greatest motivator.'
