Overview

• Andrew Bridgen failed to register a £4.47 million interest-free loan from donor Jeremy Hosking within the required 28-day period, declaring it 1,135 days late.
• The loan, provided between 2020 and 2023, was used to fund a legal dispute over Bridgen’s family potato farm.
• The Commons Standards Committee deemed the breach inadvertent and formally reprimanded Bridgen, but no penalties were imposed as he is no longer an MP.
• Bridgen refused to apologise, asserting he did not believe the loan required disclosure despite the watchdog’s findings to the contrary.
• This case highlights ongoing concerns about donor influence, enforcement of transparency rules, and accountability for former MPs.