GKN pair gave £170k to Tories

TWO bosses of the predatory firm behind a hostile bid for defence giant GKN donated £170,000 to the Conservative Party.

Melrose vice-chairman David Roper, 67, has donated £131,375 since 2014, while chairman Christopher Miller, 66, has given £40,492, according to Electoral Commission figures.

The Government is under mounting pressure to intervene to block Melrose’s £7.4billion bid for GKN amid fears it could harm national security and industry.

GKN makes key parts for cars, aircraft and fighter jets. Its clients include the US and UK militaries, Airbus and Mercedes, and it employs 6,000 people in the UK and 58,000 around the world.

Theresa May has signalled she will act to block the takeover if that is in the national interest. It has emerged the Government is exploring if it can intervene on national security grounds.

Len McCluskey, head of the union Unite which is opposed to the takeover, said: ‘In light of this revelation, it is important the Prime Minister stays true to her promise to act on the national interest.

‘That means intervening to stop a great British manufacturer from falling into the wrong hands.’

Melrose said the company itself made no political donations. It declined to comment further.

The firm buys underperforming businesses and turns them around before selling them on. Its bosses are battling GKN’s American boss Anne Stevens, 69, for control of the 259-year old company.

Mr Miller and Mr Roper founded Melrose with chief executive Simon Peckham, 55, after working at conglomerate Wassall.

They and finance director Geoffrey Martin, 50, could split £258million if the GKN takeover is successful.