Big Four Accountancy firms: Donations to UK political parties 2010-2015

During the Coalition Government, from May 2010 to May 2015, the 'Big Four' accountancy firms (KPMG, PwC, Deloitte and Ernst and Young) donated huge amounts to the main three political parties - the Labour Party, Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats. These donations were predominately in the form of staff secondments, but also as cash donations, consultancy services, hospitality and hidden by the 'other' category.
Former Labour MP Austin Mitchell has claimed the Big Four are more powerful than government. He says that
:They are so dominant in such big centres of power, that they permeate government by providing staff and transferring people over and recruiting the high-fliers from government for their own purposes. More powerful, well, that is kind of a bit boastful, but they are certainly very powerful.
:Their power has increased and ought to be diminished. I think it's a new sponsor of power, based on the self-interest of their partners. 
:Governments give all sorts of concessions, like limited liability partnerships. They threatened to get by in the Channel Islands by emigrating the firms to Jersey. That decided the Labour government to give them limited liability partnerships, which prevents all the partners from losing their yachts and houses and big money in the event of a lawsuit against them.
:So they have already got major concessions from government and they are transacting a lot of government business when advisory government business comes their way. I think their power is a threat to the public sector'. Carlos Martin Tornero Political donations are a way of influencing policy and buying influence: Austin Mitchell former MP The Accountant, 22 May 2015, accessed 26 May 2015.
==PwC==
===Conservative Party===
Date
Amount
Nature/provision
10/05/2010
£4,329.00
Consultancy services
10/05/2010
£8,305.00
Staff costs
===Liberal Democrats===
Date
Amount
Nature/provision
30/09/2010
£5,825.00
Staff costs
31/12/2010
£24,852.00
Staff costs
31/03/2011
£24,852.00
Staff costs
30/06/2011
£38,281.00
Non-cash, other
30/06/2011
£20,137.00
Staff costs
30/09/2011
£6,879.00
Staff costs
31/12/2011
£14,811.00
Staff costs
31/12/2011
£5,050.00
Non-cash, other
31/03/2012
£14,534.00
Staff costs
30/06/2012
£28,417.00
Staff costs
30/09/2012
£26,224.00
Staff costs
30/09/2012
£14,138.00
Staff costs
31/12/2012
£3,216.00
Staff costs
31/12/2012
£25,894.00
Staff costs
31/12/2012
£1,772.00
Staff costs
31/03/2013
£3,101.00
Staff costs
31/03/2013
£3,330.00
Staff costs
31/03/2013
£28,306.00
Staff costs
30/06/2013
£28,753.00
Staff costs
30/09/2013
£21,155.00
Staff costs
31/12/2013
£21,022.00
Staff costs
12/03/2014
£3,101.00
Non-cash, other
31/03/2014
£15,936.00
Staff costs
30/06/2014
£48,069.00
Staff costs
30/09/2014
£67,997.00
Staff costs
15/10/2014
£7,500.00
Cash donation
31/12/2014
£19,448.00
Staff costs
31/12/2014
£20,601.00
Staff costs
===Labour Party===
====Party donations====
Date
Amount
Nature/provision
01/06/2010
£9,500.00
Cash sponsorship
26/11/2010
£835.00
Hospitality
31/12/2010
£61,861.00
Staff costs
28/02/2011
£10,106.64
Staff costs
03/03/2011
£1,227.00
Cash sponsorship
06/06/2011
£30,000.00
Staff costs
30/09/2011
£81,315.00
Staff costs
04/01/2012
£59,976.00
Staff costs
12/06/2012
£106,130.00
Staff costs
05/11/2012
£88,060.00
Staff costs
25/03/2013
£54,432.00
Staff costs
	
15/11/2013
£61,220.00
Staff costs
01/04/2014
£32,670.00
Staff costs
18/07/2014
£57,078.00
Staff costs
21/11/2014
£386,605.00
Staff costs
====Personal donations====
Date(s)
Person
Amount
Nature of donation
June 2010
Angela Eagle
Ad hoc advice from specialists during the Commons stages of the Finance Bill received by the Opposition Frontbench Treasury Team
June 2010
Stephen Timms
£9,500.00
Ad hoc advice from specialists during the Commons stages of the Finance Bill received by the Opposition Frontbench
July 2010
Liam Byrne
£9,500.00
Ad hoc advice provided to the frontbench Treasury team during the passage of the Finance Bill
July 2010
Alistair Darling
£9,500.00
Ad hoc advice provided to the frontbench Treasury team during the passage of the Finance Bill
October 2010 - November 2010
David Hanson
£11,000.00
Ad hoc advice provided to the frontbench Treasury team during the passage of the Finance (No.2) Bill
December 2010 - May 2011 (part time)
John Healey
£12,852.00
Policy analysis provided to me as Shadow Health Secretary
28 February 2011 - 30 June 2011 (4 days per week)
John Denham
£53,812.00
The services of a research assistant/analyst to support me in my Opposition front bench role
4 April 2011 – 31 July 2011
David Hanson
£55,800.00
Ad hoc advice provided to the frontbench Treasury team during the passage of the Finance (No.3) Bill
May 2011 - June 2011 (3 days per week) and August - September 2011 (4 days per week)
Caroline Flint
£25,515.00
Policy analysis provided to me as Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
6 June 2011 - October 2011 (4 days a week)
Jim Murphy
Approximately £15,000.00
Policy analysis provided to me as Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
6 September 2011 - 6 October 2011 (4 days per week)
John Denham
£12,213.00
The services of a research assistant/analyst to support me in my capacity as Shadow Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills
7 October 2011 - 23 December 2011 (4 days a week)
Chuka Umunna
£30,000.00
The services of a research assistant/analyst to support me in my capacity as Shadow Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills
28 November 2011-15 May 2012
Owen Smith
£58,530.00
Ad hoc advice provided to the frontbench Shadow Treasury team during the passage of the Finance (No. 4) Bill
4 January 2012 - 1 June 2012 (4 days a week)
Ed Balls
£72,576.00
The services of a research assistant/analyst to support me in my opposition front bench role
30 days between 31 January 2012 - 31 March 2012
Christopher Leslie
£46,620.00
The services of a Senior Manager to support me in my role as Shadow Treasury Minister during the passage of the Financial Services Bill committee stage
22 May 2012 - 22 July 2012 (3 days a week)
Rachel Reeves
£35,000.00
The services of a research assistant/analyst to support me in my capacity as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
17 September 2012 - 20 December 2012
Stephen Twigg
£14,490.00
Policy analysis provided to me as Shadow Secretary of State for Education
8 October 2012 to 31 January 2013 (2.5 days a week)
Chuka Umunna
£25,162.50 (secondee is also working for another member (assumed to be Rachel Reeves))
The services of a research assistant/analyst to support me in my capacity as Shadow Secretary of State for Business
8 October 2012 - 31 January 2013 (2.5 days a week)
Rachel Reeves
£25,162.50 (the secondee is also working for another member (assumed to be Chuka Umunna))
The services of a research assistant/analyst to support me in my capacity as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
5 November 2012 - 1 March 2013 (5 days a week)
Ed Balls
£88,060.00
The services of a research assistant/analyst to support me in my opposition front bench role
18 March 2013 - 18 June 2013
Cathy Jamieson
£18,144.00
The services of a Technical Support Analyst to support me in my role as a Shadow Treasury Minister during the passage of the Finance Bill 2013 committee stage
18 March 2013 - 18 June 2013 (1 day per week)
Christopher Leslie
£18,144.00
The services of a Technical Support Analyst to support me in my role as Shadow Treasury Minister during the passage of the Finance Bill 2013 committee stage
18 March 2013 - 18 June 2013
Catherine McKinnell
£18,144.00
The services of a Technical Support Analyst to support me in my role as a Shadow Treasury Minister during the passage of the Finance Bill
16 September 2013 - 17 January 2014
Chuka Umunna
£31,500.00
Services of a research assistant ... to support me as Shadow Secretary of State for business and my team
10 March 2014 - 20 June 2014
Ed Balls
£18,375.00
The services of a research assistant/analyst to support me in my opposition front bench role
10 March 2014 - 10 October 2014
Tessa Jowell
£54,250.00 (shared with another MP (assumed to be Jim Murphy))
Services of a research assistant ... to support me in my work on the global campaign on early childhood intervention and on the use of sport in international development
10 March 2014 - 2 November 2014
Jim Murphy
£29,435 (shared with another MP (assumed to be Tessa Jowell))
Services of a research assistant ... to support me as Shadow Secretary of State for International Development
1 April 2014 - 22 July 2014
John Healey
£32,670.00
Services of a research officer ... to assist me with policy analysis on housing and housing benefit
22 April 2014 - 2 July 2014
Cathy Jamieson
£19,026.00
The services of a Technical Support Analyst to support me in my role as a Shadow Treasury Minister during the passage of the Finance Bill
22 April 2014 - 2 July 2014
Shabana Mahmood
£19,026.00
The services of a Technical Support Analyst to support me in my role as a Shadow Treasury Minister during the passage of the Finance Bill
22 April 2014 - 2 July 2014
Catherine McKinnell
£19,026.00
The services of a Technical Support Analyst to support me in my role as a Shadow Treasury Minister during the passage of the Finance Bill
9 June 2014 - 5 September 2014 (5 days per week)
Chuka Umunna
£32,050.00
The services of a research assistant/analyst ... relates to time spent working with the Shadow Secretary of State for Business and his team
23 June 2014 - 31 December 2014
Tristram Hunt
£74,655.00
Services of a research assistant
9 July 2014 - 3 October 2014
Ed Balls
£16,492.00
The services of a research assistant/analyst to support me in my opposition front bench role
8 September 2014 - 18 December 2014 (5 days a week)
Chuka Umunna
£36,000.00
The services of a research assistant/analyst ... relates to time spent working with the Shadow Secretary of State for Business and his team
10 October 2014 - 31 March 2015
Tessa Jowell
£27,720.00 (shared with another MP)
Services of a research assistant ... to support me in my work on the global campaign on early childhood intervention, on the use of sport in international development and other general research
20 October 2014 - 31 March 2014
Rachel Reeves
£63,045.00
Analyst to support me in my role as Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary
10 November 2014 - 1 May 2015
Ian Murray
£45,000.00
The services of a research assistant, received via the Labour Party, to support me in my role at the Independent Export Commission
21 November 2014 - 27 March 2015
Ed Balls
£29,295.00
The services of a research assistant/analyst to support me in my opposition front bench role
19 January 2015 - 27 March 2015
Tristram Hunt
£26,250.00
Services of a research assistant
12 March 2015 - 30 March 2015
Ed Balls
£16,695.00
The services of a research assistant/analyst to support me in my opposition front bench role
===APPGs===
*Donated £8000.00 in March 2015 to the All-Party Parliamentary Corporate Governance Group Parliament Publications All-Party Parliamentary Corporate Governance Group, accessed 3 June 2015.
*Provide consultancy services and background briefings to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Insurance and Financial Services Parliament Publications All-Party Parliamentary Group on Insurance and Financial Services, accessed 3 June 2015.
==KPMG==
===Conservative Party===
Date
Amount
Nature/provision
30/03/2012
£19,500.00
Staff costs
30/06/2012
£12,000.00
Staff costs
30/09/2013
£1,223.50
Non-cash sponsorship
30/09/2013
£8,600.00
Staff costs
31/12/2013
£3,635.00
Staff costs
31/12/2014
£19,277.20
Staff costs
===Liberal Democrats===
Date
Amount
Nature/provision
30/06/2010
£9,000.00
Staff costs
30/09/2011
£17,000.00
Staff costs
31/12/2011
£9,154.00
Staff costs
31/03/2012
£22,000.00
Staff costs
30/06/2012
£22,000.00
Staff costs
30/09/2012
£19,000.00
Staff costs
31/12/2012
£22,000.00
Non-cash, other
30/09/2013
£10,975.00
Staff costs
31/12/2013
£5,452.00
Staff costs
31/03/2014
£8,560.00
Staff costs
30/06/2014
£8,560.00
Staff costs
30/09/2014
£13,085.00
Staff costs
31/12/2014
£12,375.00
Staff costs
30/03/2015
£12,375.00
Consultancy services
===Labour Party===
====Party donations====
Date
Amount
Nature/provision
07/05/2010
£8,300.00
Staff costs
30/09/2010
£5,875.00
Staff costs
18/10/2010
£740.00
Cash donation
31/12/2010
£17,625.00
Staff costs
31/03/2011
£17,625.00
Staff costs
30/06/2011
£17,625.00
Staff costs
	
14/09/2011
£1,200.00
Cash donation
30/09/2011
£17,625.00
Staff costs
28/06/2012
£8,500.00
Staff costs
31/12/2012
£3,833.00
Staff costs
31/03/2013
£11,650.00
Staff costs
30/06/2013
£11,650.00
Staff costs
30/09/2013
£41,650.00
Staff costs
31/12/2013
£30,000.00
Staff costs
31/03/2014
£30,000.00
Staff costs
30/06/2014
£38,875.00
Staff costs
30/09/2014
£54,019.00
Staff costs
31/12/2014
£1,575.00
Staff costs
====Personal donations====
Date(s)
Person
Amount
Nature of donation
1 September 2014 - 28 February 2015
Vernon Coaker
£13,039
The services of an analyst to support me in my opposition front bench role
==APPGs==
*A sponsor (financial or otherwise) of the All Party Parliamentary Extractive Industry Group (now the All-Party Parliamentary Group on International Mining) Extractive Industry APPG EI, accessed 3 June 2015. Mining in Parliament We have changed our name, accessed 3 June 2015.
==Deloitte==
===Conservative Party===
Date
Amount
Nature/provision
30/06/2010
£75,555.06
Staff costs
15/09/2010
£8,000.00
Cash donation
===Liberal Democrats===
Date
Amount
Nature/provision
30/09/2014
£20,000.00
Consultancy services
===Labour Party===
====Party donations====
Date
Amount
Nature/provision
30/06/2014
£43,537.00
Staff costs
30/09/2014
£44,941.00
Staff costs
31/12/2014
£77,287.00
Staff costs
====Personal donations====
Date(s)
Person
Amount
Nature of donation
From 22 April 2013 (1 day a week)
Iain Wright
£2,000.00
Secondment ... working solely on a specific development project for me in my capacity as Shadow Minister for Competitiveness and Enterprise
6 January 2014 - 16 January 2014
Luciana Berger
£4,726.76
The services of a research analyst to support me in my capacity as Shadow Minister for Public Health
21 October 2014 - 28 February 2015
Kate Green
£90,000.00 + VAT and expenses
Secondment of analyst to support me in my role as shadow work and pensions minister
1 December 2014 - 31 March 2015
Ivan Lewis
£6,300.00
The services of an administrator to support me in my Shadow Cabinet role by assisting with the Heenan-Anderson Commission
==Ernst and Young==
===Conservative Party===
Date
Amount
Nature/provision
===Liberal Democrats===
Date
Amount
Nature/provision
===Labour Party===
Date
Amount
Nature/provision
===APPGs===
*Donated £2,500.00 in April 2014 and £5,000.00 in December 2014 to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Women in Parliament Parliament Publications All-Party Parliamentary Group for Women in Parliament, accessed 3 June 2015.
==Resources==
*Electoral Commission Search the register.
*Carlos Martin Tornero, Labour to win, if Big Four donation patterns become self-fulfilling prophecy The Accountant, 5 May 2015.
*Maeve McClenaghan, How ‘big four’ get inside track by loaning staff to government Bureau of Investigative Journalism, 10 July 2012.
*Parliament Publications The Register of Members' Financial Interests
*Parliament Publications Register Of All-Party Groups [as at 30 March 2015]
==Notes==
Category:Consulting Firms
Category:Accounting Industry
Category:Conservative Party Donors
Category:Labour Party Donors
Category:Liberal Democrats Donors