'Shame' of Portillo's £5000 Charity Fee

4.51.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 23rd Jul 2004

There is widespread local anger at the revelation that Michael Portillo, MP and former Conservative Minister, accepted £5000 to speak at the Shooting Star Trust annual fund raising ball last November. The information emerged from a study of the Register of Members Interest which shows an entry of 'up to £5000' for the engagement. Mr Portillo earns up to £370,000 from journalism, TV appearances and other engagements (on top of his MP's salary of £55,000).

Vincent Cable, MP, who is a patron of the Hampton hospice and attended last weeks 'topping' out ceremony said Portillo's behaviour was "absolutely disgraceful".

"I fully understand the Trust's position. It has to pay professional fees and, then, relies on the decency of rich and famous people to put the money back into the charity. It seems that Portillo has just pocketed his fee. Most people in public life would be happy to support a deserving and popular charity for nothing. The Chief Executive has sensitively suggested that Mr Portillo makes a donation; I hope he will try to redeem his reputation by doing so."