Owen Smith spent almost £1 million trying – and failing – to wrestle the Labour leadership from Jeremy Corbyn, Heat Street can disclose.
New financial records released by parliament show the Pontypridd MP’s campaign attracted donations and sponsorship totalling £808,905 – believed to be one of the largest amounts ever raised by an MP standing for the leadership of any party.
Smith’s unsuccessful attempt encouraged donations from a wide range of individuals including ex-BBC chief Greg Dyke and former Home Secretary David Blunkett, each of whom gave him £2,000.
TV producer Charlie Parsons gave Smith £70,000, Lib Dem peer Lord Oakeshott gave him £10,000, and businessman Sir Victor Blank gave him £10,000.
Georgina Black gave him his biggest single donation from an individual – £100,000.
This impressive sum was matched by Hull-based company Allamhouse.
The GMB union gave Smith £50,000.
By comparsion, the victorious Corbyn raised the far smaller sum of £254,634 in donations, loans and support.
Almost all of his cash came from trades unions, including Unite and the Fire Brigades Union.
Corbyn secured 313,209 votes against Smith’s 193,229.