The investigation found that the government's business support grant was received by Conservative Associations in Wakefield, Harrogate and Knaresborough, Selby and Ainsty and Shipley. "It is absolutely outrageous that local Conservative Associations have accepted the government's grant of £10,000," he told YorkshireLive. Under the criteria, companies which have a rateable value of £15,000 or less and which received business rates relief qualified for the business support grant. In guidance recently issued by IPSA, the expenses watchdog advised MPs to decline the business support grant. "This funding from the Coronavirus Business Rate Relief Fund is in line with guidance from HMRC and the Electoral Commission."

Source: Daily Mirror November 16, 2020 11:45 UTC