Questions have been raised after it emerged that Bolton West’s MP received a large donation from a telecoms company installing infrastructure across Bolton.

It follows on from a meeting with residents  who voiced their concerns over “no consultation” over the installation of 6G poles.

According to The Register of Members' Financial Interests Chris Green MP received a £5,000 donation from the company in September of this year.

It was also reported by the Daily Mail last year that several other Tory MPs, including James Daly MP for Bury North, and Christian Wakeford MP for Bury South, each received £3,500.

But the system also shows that James Daly MP also received a donation of £5,000 in October of this year.

For some of the donations made, there is a brief description, where it says it was for a campaign, or leaflet printing for example.

Residents demanded to know what the donation was used for.

Mr Green MP says that he was not aware of the poles going up or had any communication with IX Wireless, but he says he will be in touch with the company and the council.

He also explained that despite not needing planning permission, this did not mean that poles could obstruct drives.

He said: “This is the starting point for me, and I can now raise it with the company and the council and challenge them on what they are doing.

“What’s very clear from what residents have told me and from the legislation as it is, is that the project that the company is doing here has had no relationship with me as an MP.

The Bolton News: Residents shared their concerns with Chris Green MPResidents shared their concerns with Chris Green MP (Image: Newsquest)

“They actually have a statutory default approval for what they are doing, so they don’t need to contact me.

“They haven’t been in touch about this with me, and it’s fundamentally a question and a concern for the council because it’s about street infrastructure.

“But again because of the demand for broadband, there is a significant overall demand, perhaps not necessarily here at the moment, but there is a broad demand for increased broadband access because more people are doing things online at home.”

When questioned about the donation, Mr Green admitted he was aware of this, and that this was normal practice for MPs to receive donations from businesses, individuals, or other organisations.

He says that the reasons are subject to whatever the organisations choose.

He said: “They might have a declared reason or not, but this is a general donation to support – when the next general election comes – the normal, routine democratic campaigning activities for a MP.

“As a member of the Northern Research Group (a group of Conservative MPs representing the northern constituency, including here in Bolton West, we work together to make sure that we can campaign and talk to ministers and talk to businesses, and talk to councils, right across the north of England and make sure we have an influence in Westminster that represents the number of MPs in our group.

“And earlier this year, we put on a big conference in Doncaster where we were able to get the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time Rishi Sunak (now the Prime Minister) to make sure he can come over, and again listen to a range of different people representing councils and representing other organisations.

“And yes, representing business as well.

“So, that’s fundamentally what these sorts of donations are about.”

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