OXFORDSHIRE MPs declared almost £35,000 on top of their pay, in recently revealed figures.

The findings, from the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, show Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran declared £29,100 in private donations, in the most recent register publications.

She did not receive the money directly, the donations went to the local Liberal Democrats to support her election and their campaigning. 

The main purpose of the register is to provide information about any financial interest which an MP has, or any benefit they receive, which ‘others might reasonably consider to influence his or her actions or words as an MP’.

The register is updated fortnightly when the House of Commons is sitting, and less often at other times.

Ms Moran declared private donations of £29,100, as well as £3,000 from law firm Bindmans LLP for work done as a member of a detention review panel, and £150 from Iain Dale Limited for writing a chapter of a book, The Presidents.

Oxford Mail: Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla MoranOxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran

A spokesperson for Layla Moran MP said: “Layla is working hard on behalf of her constituents as ever, including by chairing the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus, helping constituents in need and representing our community in Parliament.

"Layla continues to be very grateful to a number of local supporters who provide generous support to her local campaigning work. These donations are given to the local Liberal Democrats who, unlike the Tories and Labour, cannot rely on big business or the unions to support them, to help with important local campaigns."

Anneliese Dodds, MP for Oxford East, received £181.74 from the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS), and £175 from Informa UK.

The ALCS payment is for previously published work, and as Ms Dodds was a publishing academic before becoming an MP, she has some works which attract ALCS payments.

The Informa payment was for an update of a chapter on social policy which Ms Dodds wrote for the textbook Politics UK, before she was an MP.

The fee from Informa was donated to charity.

Oxford Mail: Oxford East MP Anneliese DoddsOxford East MP Anneliese Dodds

Witney MP Robert Courts received payments of £1,250 (plus VAT) and £1,000 (plus VAT) from solicitors Coles Miller LLP.

These entries are declarations of payments Mr Courts received for his work at the Bar of England and Wales.

They form part of what is called ‘aged debt’ – a payment in arrears for work carried out before Mr Courts was elected.

The MP was a practicing barrister before being elected as an MP in 2016.

Oxford Mail: Witney MP Robert CourtsWitney MP Robert Courts

John Howell, the MP for Henley, received £800 per month from SP Broadway, a public relations consultancy.

Between September 2019 and November 1 this year, Mr Howell was an associate with SP Broadway, providing ad hoc strategic advice.

The agreement with SP Broadway was that Mr Howell would not provide any advice relating to his constituency.

The relationship ceased due to additional work leaving Mr Howell with little time to provide strategic advice.

Oxford Mail: Henley MP John HowellHenley MP John Howell

David Johnston, MP for Wantage, and Banbury MP Victoria Prentis received no payments in the most recent figures.

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