Boris Johnson was given a £10,000 ‘donation’ by JCB before Brexit speech in front of digger The former minister mentioned the construction company several times during the speech at its headquarters

Boris Johnson was given £10,000 by construction company JCB days before he gave a 25 minute speech on Brexit at its headquarters.

Mr Johnson urged Theresa May to “emulate the spirit of JCB” in her negotiations with the EU during the speech at the factory in Staffordshire on Friday.

In what was widely considered to be a Tory leadership bid, Mr Johnson stood in front of a huge yellow branded digger and made a pitch for a hardline Brexit deal and a tough negotiating stance.

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He repeatedly referenced the company in the speech, at one point saying: “As JCB has demonstrated there is absolutely nothing — no bureaucratic prejudice or impediment — that has been able to stop a British-made backhoe loader from roaring on to building sites around the world and thereby creating thousands of jobs in this country.

JCB boss supports Brexit

“So let us emulate the spirit of JCB and remove from our path the backstop that is the last Brussels-built blockage in the path of a global Britain.”

The donation was revealed after it was registered by the House of Commons authorities.

The documents state that “donor” J C Bamford Excavators Ltd provided Mr Johnson with £10,000 on 15 January, four days before the speech.

It has also emerged that former Brexit secretary David Davis has been employed as an adviser to the company. He will be paid a salary of £60,000 and is expected to work as an external adviser for around 20 hours per year.

JCB’s chairman, Lord Anthony Bamford, is a Tory peer and an outspoken advocate of the UK manufacturing industry. Ahead of he 2016 Brexit referendum he wrote to his employees outlining his support of leaving the EU and donated £100,000 to the Vote Leave campaign.

‘Damaging reputation of Parliament’

MPs are allowed to accept donations from companies but must declare them.

But Jon Trickett MP, Labour’s shadow minister for the cabinet office, said the donations risk damaging the reputation of Parliament.

“What David Davis will get paid in 20 hours takes most people over two years to earn. But then again, under the Tories it’s one set of rules for the few and another for the many,” he said in a statement.

“Most people when reading this will no doubt think ‘snouts in the trough’ and this is exactly why Labour has repeatedly warned of the damage to the reputation of Parliament caused by arrangements like this and why they need to stop.”

JCB has been contacted for comment.

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