Shadow energy secretary in row over £14k in donations from JCB billionaire during election campaign

10 November 2024, 15:48

The shadow secretary for energy has come under scrutiny for her alleged links to JCB
The shadow secretary for energy has come under scrutiny for her alleged links to JCB. Picture: Alamy

By Shannon Cook

Tory MP Claire Coutinho reportedly accepted donations and awarded funds to JCB billionaire Lord Bamford.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The former Secretary of State for Energy has been embroiled in an alleged 'conflict of interest' debacle, an investigation has revealed.

While serving in Rishi Sunak's cabinet, Ms Coutinho oversaw the move to provide funding in the form of taxpayer-funded green energy grants to Lord Bamford's businesses.

The funding is thought to have come from the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund and other green energy funding pots.

Lord Bamford is the billionaire boss of leading construction manufacturer JCB - one of Britain's most successful family-owned businesses.

Ms Coutinho is the current MP for East Surrey and Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

JCB chairman Lord Bamford is thought to be friends with Boris Johnson
JCB chairman Lord Bamford is thought to be friends with Boris Johnson. Picture: Alamy

Alongside accepting a £7,000 private helicopter ride and a £7,500 donation from JCB to support her local election efforts, Ms Coutinho was spotted in images endorsing Lord Bamford's hydrogen energy initiative - a project worth £100m, reports The Observer.

It is thought that the Conservative Party may have accepted donations from JCB worth £300,000 this year.

Read more: Suella Braverman claims Nigel Farage would make a 'good ambassador' to the UK under Trump administration

Read more: New Tory leader Kemi Badenoch says 'huge job' ahead involves 'people we want to bring back to Conservative Party'

In a video posted to JCB's X social media page in May, Claire Coutinho can be seen discussing the JCB hydrogen project. The social post reads: "We've done so much, we've come so far and actually it's through great partnerships with businesses like JCB which means we've been able to develop this amazing news technology."

Lord Bamford, who has links to Boris Johnson, has previously lobbied for the government to fund infrastructure projects.

The investigation revealed that in September 2023 Ms Coutinho's department awarded £3.2m to a consortium led by Ryze Hydrogen, which is headed by Jo Bamford - the son of Lord Bamford.

The funding was provided by Coutinho's department to supply hydrogen refuelling to construction sites, reported The Observer.

Under the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, government grants were also reportedly provided to Hygen - a project led by one of Jo Bamford's businesses.

A further £21m funding is alleged to have been provided to a project affiliated with Bamford.

Former energy security Claire Coutinho is alleged to have accepted donations from JCB for her local election campaign
Former energy security Claire Coutinho is alleged to have accepted donations from JCB for her local election campaign. Picture: Alamy

There is thought to be no evidence that the funding provided to Bamford's business empire was 'improper' or that 'correct processes' were ignored.

Rose Whiffen, senior research officer at Transparency International UK, told The Observer: "When decision-makers repeatedly accept meetings, hospitality and contributions from the same donor, it gives rise to a perception that a cosy relationship exists.

“Ministers and shadow ministers should always be cautious when accepting gifts and hospitality from outside interests – even more so when the source of these donations has a direct interest in their ministerial brief.”

Carys Boughton, from Fossil Free Parliament, critiqued Ms Coutinho's choice to accept donations from JCB.

She told The Observer: “As the former energy secretary and now shadow secretary of state for climate change and net zero, Coutinho should not be allowed to take gifts and donations from companies that are pushing for the approval of energy projects that she has prospective influence over.”

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Almost a third of children have refused to go to school, at least one, in the past year.

Education secretary warns of school absence 'epidemic' as a third of children have tried to miss school this year

Prosper admitted killing his mother and two siblings

Teenager who admitted killing his mother and siblings in Luton flat was planning a school shooting, police reveal

Miquita Oliver shar

TV presenter Miquita Oliver reveals first kiss was with infamous ISIS Beatle 'Jihadi George'

Roberta Flack On Stage At Park West

'Killing Me Softly' singer and R&B icon Roberta Flack dies aged 88

Arsenal fans celebrate after they score, Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Met police officer sacked for 'football hooliganism' after throwing flare at Arsenal match

Louisa (Lulu) Palmisano.

Pictured: 'Sweet, kind and generous' girl, 3, killed in crash involving van and tram as man, 36, arrested

Near-Earth asteroid, artwork

NASA gives major update on massive 'city killer' asteroid 'the size of Big Ben' striking earth and it's good news

Prosper pleaded guilty to all six charges at Luton Crown Court

Man, 19, admits murdering his mother, sister and brother in Luton flat

Ozempic and Wegovy, injectable prescription weight loss medicines.

Fresh concerns over weight-loss jabs as medication linked to dozens of deaths

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for an investigation into the BBC Gaza documentary.

Kemi Badenoch calls for investigation into BBC Gaza documentary featuring grandson of Hamas founder

Chants of “f*** the feds” could be heard as the boys took control of the emergency vehicle.

GenZ mob run riot for TikTok stunt and swarm police cars during ‘free pop-up’ by streetwear clothing brands

Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Ashbourne, Derbyshire,

Boy, 15, arrested after school forced into lockdown after student 'behaving aggressively and threatening staff'

The Runcorn and Helsby MP has been sitting as an independent since he was suspended following his arrest in October

MP Mike Amesbury jailed for 10 weeks for punching man in street in 'unprovoked drunken' assault

Speaking via video link to a Kyiv conference, the Prime Minister reaffirmed that Britain is ready to commit British troops on the ground in Ukraine in order to maintain peace.

'Russia doesn't hold all the cards', Starmer says, as he tells Ukraine 'we are with you' three years on from invasion

Leanne Lucas has described for the first time the desperate moments when she helped children run to safety

'If I didn't get out, everyone was going to die': Hero yoga teacher tells how she saved children from Southport attacker

Moise Kean was carried into an ambulance after collapsing during Fiorentina’s game against Verona

Moise Kean update after ex-Everton star rushed to hospital after collapsing on the pitch