Angela Rayner has come under fire for accepting a £20,000 donation from an oil lobbyist group. The Housing Secretary received the sum from Signum Global Advisors on July 8 towards staffing costs, according to the latest register of MPs' financial interests. Critics accused her of hypocrisy as she has "cheered on" Labour's net zero drive.
Conservative Criticism
Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake told The Telegraph: "It's a classic Angela Rayner case of 'do as I say, not as I do' just as it was when she dodged her housing taxes. Ms Rayner was one of Mr Miliband's cheerleaders as he repeatedly blocked North Sea drilling. Now, it seems her opposition isn't strong enough to stop her from taking £20,000 from an oil lobbyist. Ms Rayner can't have it both ways."
Think Tank Reaction
Joanna Marchong, head of campaigns at the think tank Onward, added: "This is yet another case of Labour hypocrisy from a minister who has made a career of it. Ms Rayner cheered on Mr Miliband's net zero crusade and repeatedly voted to raise windfall taxes on oil and gas companies. She lectured the industry from the moral high ground while British firms paid the price, and then, when out of office, she happily banked tens of thousands of pounds from a firm organising investment trips for oil executives."
Additional Income and Response
Signum Global Advisors organised gatherings of dozens of oil company executives and hedge fund managers in Venezuela in March to discuss opportunities for oil exploration in the country. Ms Rayner also earned £10,000 for a speaking engagement at Signum Global Advisors in March this year but asked for the fee to be paid to a charity. The former deputy PM earlier this year praised her "friend" Ed Miliband, the then-energy secretary, for his net zero push. A spokesman for Ms Rayner said: "All donations have been declared in line with the rules." Signum Global Advisors has been contacted for comment.
