Greater Manchester MP Angela Rayner has denied that she broke the rules over the use of a flat in New York over last New Year
Allegations in this morning’s Sunday Times said that the The deputy prime minister let Sam Tarry, then MP for Ilford South, accompany her at Labour donor’s $2.5 million Manhattan apartment
The rules say MPs must declare foreign trips which they, or anyone connected to them, undertake if a donor pays for “part or all” of it as a result of their “parliamentary or political activities”.
She told the BBC that Lord Waheed Alli was a friend and the trip had been a “personal holiday” but she had been “transparent” by disclosing her use of the apartment because he had donated to her in the past.
She added that she understood why people were “frustrated” and “angry” about the issue.
However, she said donations had been “a feature of our politics for a very long time”, with all MPs accepting gifts.
She argued donations were necessary because of the expense of running for office but said it was important politicians were transparent about where they had come from.
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