New data has revealed the number of donations made to the Bromsgrove MP in the last 12 months. 

MPs are required to declare their financial interests within 28 days of the start of a new Parliament.

They must also disclose any gifts or benefits they receive that could be reasonably considered to influence what they say or do as MPs.

Newly-elected MPs must disclose any relevant financial interests from the year before their election.

The figures show Bromsgrove MP Bradley Thomas declared a total of £18,259 for last year.

Of this, there were £12,000 in donations, £3,609 in gifts and benefits and £2,650 to pay for visits overseas.

In response to the data, Bradley Thomas, MP for Bromsgrove and the Villages, said: "It’s important for trust in politics that all donations received are declared transparently, and that’s exactly what I’ve done and will continue to do.

"Let me be clear that I did not benefit personally from the donations I received. The donations supported my campaign to become an MP. It is not cheap or free to run a campaign.

"The donations paid for campaign literature which costs thousands of pounds. This is very common amongst political candidates from all parties.

"The gifts and benefits I received were in kind, and at no point in receipt of any benefit or donation did I receive any financial contribution paid directly to me.

"These benefits include attending conferences on topics such as geopolitics to raise my awareness of key developments that impact the UK.

"I think residents would expect anyone hoping to become an MP to have a broad understanding of world affairs which have an impact on our lives here in the UK.

"As a parliamentary candidate, I also went on a fact-finding overseas visit. Again, this is very common amongst political candidates from all parties."

In total, 498 MPs reported the donations that they received. Labour MPs received the highest amount with a total of £9.3 million, followed by the Liberal Democrats with £3.2 million, and the Conservatives with £1.7 million.