Nick Clegg funds Lib Dems in Sheffield Hallam battle

The Lib Dems received £85,600 from Sir Nick, with just over £30,000 going to his former seat of Sheffield.

By: Pramod Thomas

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg offered financial support in his former constituency, Financial times disclosed.

He donated tens of thousands of pounds to his former seat of Sheffield Hallam to boost the fight against the current Labor MP.

Labour’s Olivia Blake has been the MP for Sheffield Hallam since 2019. It is expected to be the only seat where Labor and the Lib Dems are in direct competition.

Conformable FTpeople close to Clegg, now a senior director of Meta, said he has been providing financial support since losing his seat to Labor in 2017 and has increased those donations with larger monthly payments.

Electoral Commission records show that over the past eight years, the Lib Dems have received £85,600 from Sir Nick, with just over £30,000 going to his former seat of Sheffield. Also, his recent donations have not yet been published in the commission’s register.

His contributions to the seat of Sheffield Hallam include £15,000 in 2019 and £5,000 in 2022.

The Lib Dems are aiming to take up to 20 seats from the Tories in the July 4 election, with their Sheffield candidate, Shaffaq Mohammed, hoping to unseat the Labor MP.

“The next government will be a Labor government. (But) if there is going to be as strong a Labor government as the polls suggest, we may need an alternative voice in this region,” Mohammed said.

Someone close to the former party leader said he knew the party faced a tough challenge in his old seat, “given Labour’s current strong position”.

The figures also show he donated £25,000 to the central party last year, along with two payments totaling £30,000 to its Scottish branch in 2021 and 2022.

Sheffield Hallam was once a Tory stronghold and the Lib Dems are now targeting voters who voted Tory in 2019.

Mr Mohammed told the Financial Times: “The next government will be Labour. But if it’s as strong as the polls suggest, we may need an alternative voice in this area.”

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In 2017 Clegg, after losing his seat to Labour, moved from Westminster to a career in technology in California. He now splits his time between the US West Coast and London, using London as a base for travel to Asia and Europe in his role as Meta’s Head of Global Affairs.

A spokesman for the Lib Dems said: “It is no surprise at all. Nick and Shaffaq have known each other for over twenty years. Shaffaq would make a fantastic MP for Sheffield Hallam. A lot of people are going out of their way to support his campaign.”

Meta has been contacted for comment.