MP Kerr’s election bill
The Friends who helped our new MP get elected
Stirling’s MP spent more on General Election expenses than all of the rest of his rivals for the seat combined.
Stephen Kerr out-spent his nearest rival, the SNP’s Steven Paterson, by more than £6000 during the campaign in June.
The SNP are now calling on Mr Kerr to give more details about contributions of more than £12,000.
Stephen Kerr spent more than all his opposition candidates combined in his successful bid to become MP for Stirling.
The businessman out-spent his nearest rival, SNP candidate Steven Paterson, by £6000 during the General Election campaign in June.
Mr Kerr won the constituency by just 148 votes, snatching the seat from the SNP.
Now SNP activists are call on Mr Kerr to give more details about the individual and group which contributed more than £12,000 to his political rise.
Candidate election expenses, filed with Stirling Council reveal Mr Kerr spent £13,682.92 on election costs.
SNP candidate and former Stirling MP, Steven Paterson racked up just £7,290.41 in election expenses while Women’s Equality Party candidate, Kirstein Rummery spent £3,345.94.
Labour candidate and Stirling East councillor, Chris Kane logged just £2,103.46, whilst Lib Dem candidate, Wendy Chamberlain spent £806.29 on election expenses.
In the recently-released register of MPs’ financial interest, Mr Kerr lists a £10,000 donation from a friend, William J Thompson, as well as an additional £2500 from Stalbury Trustees – a group “which is devoted to the promotion of Conservative principles” which includes several peers of the realm.
Each candidate was set a spending limit of more than £14,000 for election expenses.
A Stirling Conservative spokesperson said: “It is ultimately the decision of each individual voter in Stirling that elects an MP. Campaign finance is heavily regulated and we conform to the regulations fully. Our campaign was supported by people from all walks of life who gave their time, effort and money to make the Scottish Conservative case to the people of Stirling. The amount of money spent reflects just how passionate and engaged the Scottish Conservatives are in Stirling.
“Stephen ran a strong campaign locally focused on Scotland’s future within the United Kingdom. Stirling residents put their confidence in Stephen as an effective local champion who has been long committed to serving the people of Stirling.
“The large single donation to the campaign was from a life-long friend of Stephen’s.”
A Stirling SNP spokesperson said: “Unlike the Tories, the SNP is not bankrolled by a bunch of unelected Lords with nothing better to do than filter money into marginal seats like Stirling.
“The SNP fought two elections this year - Stirling Council and Westminster - back to back and with resources raised locally, whilst the Tories were helped to sneak a narrow win by super-rich donors nobody in Stirling has ever heard of.
“Stephen Kerr should come clean with his electorate and justify the two outside donations - totalling over £12K - he has received from wealthy private donors.”
Labour candidate Chris Kane took aim at both the Tories and SNP, saying: “Unlike the Tories or SNP, Labour are not funded by Euro millions winners or banking billionaires; our campaign was funded from the contributions of ordinary hard working men and women across our communities who gave what they could afford to promote fairness and equality for the many, not the few.”