Kevin McCloud, iconic presenter of the Grand Designs TV programme, backed Green MP Ellie Chowns to the tune of £5,000 in the general election, it has emerged.

His was one of a number of donations to the successful parliamentary candidate, including £10,000 from a party loyalist.

The Register of Members' Financial Interests, which requires MPs to declare financial interests they hold, was published on August 4 and was the first register of the new parliament.

MPs are entitled to earn salaries and receive donations outside of their parliamentary salary, provided these interests are reported.

The Register of Members' Financial Interests ensures that “any financial interest an MP has, or any benefit they receive, which someone else might reasonably consider to influence what they say or do as an MP” is recorded.

Mr McCloud, who recently settled in Bosbury, said in a video leading up to the election that he would be voting for Chowns because "she's brilliant and she has huge experience as an MEP and as a local councillor driving change here in this county".

Among other sizeable donations,  £10,000 was also received from Edward Milford, believed to be the candidate who stood in 2023 to become the Green Party’s next publications coordinator.

The newly published interests also said Dr Chowns had received a final salary payment of £974.67 for her work as a ward councillor for Herefordshire Council. The document noted that she would no longer be accepting the allowance, and the amount would be repaid.

The register also noted her work as a lecturer at the University of Birmingham, but it added that this was an unpaid role.

The North Herefordshire MP said: “I will be working full-time as the MP for North Herefordshire and won’t be taking on any additional paid roles. 

“I am continuing in my role as a ward councillor (without accepting the allowance) until September (because no one wants a by-election in August) but will then be resigning. 

“I have notified residents in my ward of this.  I resigned from my university job (from which I was anyway on unpaid leave) when I was elected”.

“I am immensely grateful to everyone who helped support the Green Party’s General Election campaign in North Herefordshire, whatever the scale of their donation.  

"As I’ve said many times, winning the election was the result of incredible teamwork by an amazing group of hundreds of volunteers, supporters and donors!”

The South Herefordshire MP has served his constituency since 2010.The South Herefordshire MP has served his constituency since 2010. (Image: Jesse Norman)

In the register, it was also noted that Jesse Norman, MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire, had previously declared shareholdings of more than £70,000 in Genie International Toys. The toy design and manufacturing business was founded by his brother, Casey Norman. 

Mr Norman’s other reported financial interests were predominantly in the form of royalties and advances on books and other publications. This included the MP receiving a payment from the BBC of £2,086.32 for listening rights for broadcast of a book in October 2023.

Other notable payments for Mr Norman included a £2,000 advance for the delivery of a completed manuscript for a book last summer. 

Included on the list was a previous entry stating that the MP is a member of the Town Board for Hereford, however it added that this is an unpaid role.

In February of this year, Franco-British Colloque Ltd subsidised a two-night hotel stay, which included food and taxi transfers to the value of £1,009.66 for Mr Norman to attend the Franco-British Colloque conference in Versailles.