HEXHAM’S MP has referred himself for internal investigation after he received financial donations from a private organisation.

Pensions Minister Guy Opperman received financial payments from the group known as The London and Northern Dining Club in October, which does not publicly name its members or leadership officials.

He referred himself for an internal investigation to a senior official at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The London and Northern Dining Club is linked to two men, David Broome and Oskar Yasar.

The Mirror newspaper said he had spoken at at least three events hosted or co-hosted by the Broome-Yasar Partnership since the beginning of 2020.

Ministers are forbidden from accepting payment for speeches on topics linked to their role in government.

He denied any wrongdoing and told the paper: “This political donation has been declared properly and transparently in accordance with the rules and was not connected to events I attended as a minister.

“To ensure confidence, I have asked the department’s permanent secretary to take an independent look into the facts.”

The Ministerial Code says: “Ministers should not accept payment for speeches or media articles of an official nature or which directly draw on their responsibilities or experience as Ministers.”

However, organisations such as The London and Northern Dining Club can freely give financial aid to MPs who are not obliged to name the donor.

This loophole allows private organisations to give financial assistance to government officials that could be left undeclared.

David Broome and Oskar Yasar are co-founders of the London-based Broome Yasar Partnership, which is an executive recruitment consultancy firm dealing in corporate affairs and investor relations.

Angela Rayner, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, said: “These revelations raise serious questions for the government and the public deserve answers

“No Minister should take payments related to their brief.”

A DWP spokesperson said: “The Minister for Pensions has asked the Department to examine the facts around these events which he attended in a ministerial capacity.”