Back in December 2013 when an 11% pay increase for MPs was announced, Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Andrew Turner stated he would donate the increase to good causes on the Island.
OnTheWight asked in November last year how that was going, his office told us that Andrew Turner paid the net amount of the pay increase into an account for good causes, but did not name the beneficiaries
Over £4,500 donated
Jump forward two and a half years from when it was first announced and Andrew Turner’s office now reveals , along with a letter from Mr Turner’s financial adviser, where the money has gone.
Mr Turner’s financial adviser states that just over £4,500 was paid into the Good Causes Fund by the MP, from which 19 good causes on the Isle of Wight received donations in the last year.
Mr Turner said,
“Like many people I think that talking about how much you give to charity is rather distasteful. The causes people support is a personal matter, and like so many Islanders I have always made private donations to a number of charities. However, I did say that I would pass my pay rise to good causes on the Island and was asked to demonstrate that I had done so. I have a separate ‘Good Causes’ bank account – and I set up a standing order each month into that account which covers the net amount I received from the pay rise. Some donations are made through that.
“The charities listed in the attached list have collectively received donations which exceed the net sum I received from the pay rise. I am grateful to Mike Ward, who works tirelessly for many charities himself, for looking through my personal paperwork and confirming that to be the case. I had planned to get this information on my website shortly after the end of the financial year, but the relevant bank statements did not come for some time and I also had to sort out all the paperwork for Mike to examine – and time slipped by.”
The good causes
See list of good causes that have benefited from Mr Turner’s payrise and letter from financial adviser.
Click on full screen icon to see larger version.
Image: Images Money under CC BY 2.0
