Labour donors boost Bercow’s campaign funds for re-election

JOHN BERCOW has received a £20,000 boost for his re-election campaign, with Labour figures among his backers.

Official records show Labour peer Lord Levy, Tony Blair’s former chief fundraiser, has donated £5,000.

Retired property tycoon and Labour donor Sir David Garrard also gave £5,000.

The same amount is also registered as being donated by Sun Mark Ltd, a distribution firm which gave £25,000 to support Theresa May’s leadership bid last summer and whose founder, Rami Ranger, backed remain at the EU referendum.

A final £5,000 donation to Mr Bercow is recorded on the MPs’ register of interests as being given by Michael Keegan.

Mr Bercow noted in his latest entry to the register that each donation is “to support my campaign for re-election to the House of Commons”.

They were received between April 25 and 29.

Mr Bercow is standing again in Buckingham as a candidate to be Speaker of the House of Commons, which by convention is an impartial role.

He was previously a Conservative MP before taking up the prestigious job in June 2009.

A no confidence motion in Mr Bercow tabled by backbench Tory MPs failed earlier this year.

It emerged in response to criticism of the Speaker’s remarks that US president Donald Trump should not be allowed to address Parliament on his state visit.

A decision on the Speaker for each Parliament is the first taken by MPs after they meet following a General Election.