Companies linked to Tory donors given £8.4bn in public contracts since 2016

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Companies linked to Conservative donors have collectively received 8.4bn in public money since 2016, analysis shows, more than 150 times what the party has received in support.

Government spending and political donation records reveal that key contributors have given 53.7m to the Tory party since January 2015, while controlling firms that have received billions in government and NHS contracts over eight years.

Frank Hester, whose company The Phoenix Partnership has received 427.7m from the NHS and Department for Health since 2016 and who has donated 15.3m to the Conservatives since 2023. The businessman, mired in a row about comments condemned as racist and misogynistic, gave the Conservative party 5m in January.

JCB Service, which donated almost 3.3m between May 2017 and September last year. Companies within the same corporate grouping have directly received 566,161 between April 2016 and April this year.

Richard Harpin, who has donated 2.7m between May 2016 and March 2024, including a donation from a company he has significant control over: Growth Partner LLP. His firms Harmony Bridge Limited and Liberty House (Hull) Ltd received a combined 730,980 from Homes England between May 2019 and August 2021.

Dr Selva Pankaj, who has donated 727,000 to the Conservatives since November 2015. His company FP(GB) LTD (formerly known as Fortress Properties) received 4,733,336 from Homes England between November 2020 and August 2023.