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18
Jun
Ripon MP receives almost £7,000 for work in Geneva
Skipton and Ripon MP Sir Julian Smith received almost £7,000 for chairing an organisation based in Geneva, according to the latest Register of Members’ Financial Interests.
The register, which is updated fortnightly when the House of Commons is sitting, also reveals the Conservative MP received a £2,000 donation from a company in Lancashire that sells luxury lodges.
Sir Julian chairs the International Finance Facility for Education, which generates funds for education and skills in lower income countries. Its honorary president is former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
He was paid £6,738 for work and expenses incurred between December 2025 and April 2026.
Sir Julian, who has chaired the IFFED since January 2025, said the payment was for 69.5 hours' work.
His biography on the IFFED website describes him as an entrepreneur and qualified mediator as well as listing his political achievements since becoming an MP in 2010.
In a separate entry on the register, he declared a £2,000 donation from Wenningdale Leisure Ltd on June 15.
The company, which previously donated £3,000 to Sir Julian in 2024, sells and rents lodges in the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District.
The Stray Ferret asked Sir Julian how much time his work with the IFFED takes each week and what his response would be to claims that it detracts from his constituency work.
A spokesperson said:
All of Sir Julian’s relevant interests are declared in full in line with the requirements of the House of Commons Register of Members’ Financial Interests.
The register is updated regularly and in accordance with parliamentary rules, it includes all required details on roles, time and remuneration where applicable, to ensure transparency.
Sir Julian manages any outside commitment alongside his parliamentary duties to ensure he is able to represent his constituents effectively.
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