Tom Watson given £500k donations by Max Mosley in one year
Tom Watson has received £500,000 in donations from Max Mosley over the past year, according to official records.
The latest register of MPs' interests shows that the Labour deputy leader registered a donation worth £300,000 from the controversial former Formula One boss this month.
It was made via the party to support Mr Watson's office, and followed a £200,000 donation from Mr Mosley last June.
Mr Mosley also donated £40,000 to support the West Bromwich East MP's bid to become Labour's deputy leader in 2015.
Mr Watson said: "I'm proud to call Max Mosley a friend and I'm delighted he has made a financial contribution to Labour. His generous donation will help the party develop strong policies for our next manifesto."
Mr Mosley and Mr Watson have been key figures in pushing for greater regulation of the press. The Mosley-funded group Impress, which was set up in the wake of the Leveson inquiry recommendations, received recognition as a state-backed press regulator last October.
Impress also received a sizeable donation from the writer JK Rowling, who also contributed to Mr Watson's deputy leader bid.
The decision to recognise Impress set in motion a possible chain of events that could herald the death knell of the newspaper industry. News outlets that refuse to join up with Impress could be forced to pay the costs of claimants who make legal complaints against them – even if the paper wins the case.
