The East Riding Council has confirmed that £10,000 of Government money, intended to provide Covid relief for small businesses, has been applied for, and paid to the Beverley & Holderness Conservative Association.
Following an investigation earlier this week by “Yorkshire Live,” it was found that some local authorities had paid the government’s business support grant to various Conservative associations in Yorkshire, although “Yorkshire Live” revealed that the East Riding Council would not provide the information.
When questioned by the Liberal Democrat opposition, the East Riding Council have now revealed in a written response that £10,000 was paid to the Beverley & Holderness Conservative Association at their offices in Cross Street, Beverley.
Lib Dem Beverley ward councillor, Cllr Denis Healy said;
“Although there is no suggestion of wrongdoing or illegality it, is outrageous that Beverley & Holderness Conservatives has the cheek to apply for £10,000 of tax-payers money intended to provide relief for struggling businesses hit by the Covid epidemic.”
“This is the local campaigning arm of a political party which exists to get Tory MPs and councillors elected.”
“There are businesses and individuals in Beverley who would have missed out on this grant funding, while the local Conservative party, which hasn’t suffered from the pandemic, helps itself to the money.”
“It’s the hard-pressed taxpayers who are paying for this. I am calling on the local Conservatives to do the right thing and hand the money back to the treasury.”
