James Wharton
James Wharton has been the Conservative Party MP for Stockton South since 2010,[1] retaining his seat in 2015 with a majority of 5,046.
In the Cabinet reshuffle in May 2015, Wharton was appointed parliamentary under secretary of state for communities and local government (Northern Powerhouse). [2] Wharton will focus on the Northern Powerhouse initiative to help to boost the economy of the north of England. Speaking about the Northern Powerhouse, Mr Cameron said: 'We will make sure our economic recovery reaches all parts of our country - and that includes building the Northern Powerhouse and delivering the infrastructure we need.' [3]
Contents
Sri Lanka
Wharton has repeatedly defended Sri Lanka's regime in the House of Commons and has travelled to the island several times at their expense. According the Telegraph:
- During a Westminster Hall debate in January, Mr Wharton said: “I have been to Sri Lanka a number of times, and the visits are all declared in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.
- “What worries me is how much misinformation is out there about what is happening on the ground. The tone of debate in the House too often worries me, because we focus on what we can do to punish the government of Sri Lanka.”
The Telegraph reported that:
- Mr Wharton said he had “declared all declarable visits in accordance with the rules”. :He said he had visited the country “as a guest of the government… to ensure a balanced view on all the issues”.
In November 2013 Wharton was one of several Tory MPs told by the Whips’ Office had told MPs that they could not go to Sri Lanka following an investigation by the Telegraph newspaper. [4]
Dinner with lobbyists
A seating plan of the Conservative Party's Black and White Ball, held in February 2014, was leaked to the Guardian in October 2014. The party, which guests pay between £450 and £1000 for a ticket, seats diners with the minister most relevant to them. The report revealed that Wharton sat on a table with the then energy minister, Michael Fallon, Alun Cairns MP and Alexander Temerko, a director of Offshore Group Newcastle, a firm which supplies the offshore renewable energy industry. Both Wharton and Cairns are MPs of constituencies where the offshore wind farms have been proposed and have both benefited from donations directly from Temerko. [5]
Donations
In 2013 and 2014, Wharton received £30,000.00 from Tory donor Peter A Cruddas and £15,000.00 from Alexander Temerko.[6]
Affiliations
External resources
- Ian Burrell, Four visits in nine months and statements in the Commons on the controversial Rajapaska regime: why does the 28-year-old MP for Stockton James Wharton care so much about Sri Lanka?, Independent, 23 November 2012.
- Claire Newell, Holly Watt, Ben Bryant, Tory MPs banned from free Sri Lanka trips The Telegraph, 6:00AM GMT 11 Nov 2013
Notes
- ↑ James Wharton, www.parliament.uk, accessed 24 August 2013.
- ↑ James Wharton handed 'Northern Powerhouse' government job by David Cameron Gazette Live, 12 May 2015, accessed 13 May 2015
- ↑ David Cameron puts MP James Wharton in charge of the Northern Powerhouse plans Manchester Evening News, 12 May 2015, accessed 13 May 2015
- ↑ Claire Newell, Holly Watt, Ben Bryant, Tory MPs banned from free Sri Lanka trips The Telegraph, 6:00AM GMT 11 Nov 2013
- ↑ Simon Goodley, Melanie Newman and Nick Mathiason Tycoons mix with top Tories at fundraising ball in London The Guardian, 12 October 2014, accessed 14 October 2014
- ↑ Electoral Commission, Donation Search, accessed 25 February 2015
