Sign in Subscribe
Prime ministers

The Privileged Access of the Bamfords in Promoting Hydrogen as a Sustainable Energy Source

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the UK prepares to host the Cop26 climate conference, a recent video has shed light on the privileged access that some businessmen, particularly the Bamfords, have enjoyed in lobbying for the adoption of hydrogen as a central place in Britain's transition from fossil fuels. The video, posted by Lord Bamford's gas distribution company, Ryze Hydrogen, on its Instagram feed in October, shows Boris Johnson strolling alongside Jo Bamford, the JCB boss Anthony Bamford, and a big green bus parked just across from the Houses of Parliament for a photocall. The discussion highlights the economics of switching engines from fossil fuel to hydrogen, with Jo Bamford stating that it's "already the same" cost as running it on diesel.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK government aims to make hydrogen up to 35% of the UK's energy consumption by 2050 as part of its net zero plans.
  • Jo Bamford's family has a net worth of £4.6 billion, built mainly through the family company, according to the Sunday Times.
  • The Bamfords have donated £8.7m to the Conservative party since 2002, while JCB has donated £670,000 to pro-Brexit groups before the EU referendum.
  • Jo Bamford employed the MP and former Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith as an adviser until November, paying him £60,000 a year for 20 hours' work.
  • Wrightbus, owned by Jo Bamford, has won taxpayer-funded contracts worth nearly £80m in the past three years for green transport projects.
  • Wrightbus has received £6m in state funding from Transport for London, £5m from EU bodies, and £1m from the UK government's Office for Zero Emission Vehicles.

Statistics:

  • £4.6 million: the net worth of the Bamfords family, built mainly through the family company.
  • £8.7 million: the total amount donated by the Bamfords to the Conservative party since 2002.
  • £670,000: the total amount donated by JCB to pro-Brexit groups before the EU referendum.
  • £60,000: the annual salary paid to Julian Smith by Jo Bamford for 20 hours' work.
  • £10,000: the amount paid by JCB to Boris Johnson before a speech in January 2019.
  • £27,000: the value of luxury ready meals worth received by Boris Johnson from Daylesford Organic, the company founded by Lord Bamford's wife.
  • £80 million: the total value of taxpayer-funded contracts won by Wrightbus in the past three years for green transport projects.
  • £12 million: the contract won by Wrightbus from Transport for London to build England's first fleet of hydrogen-powered doubledeckers.
  • £66 million: the contract won by Wrightbus from Northern Ireland's government for zero-emission battery and hydrogen buses.

Sources:

  • Sunday Times
  • Electoral Commission records
  • Daily Mail
  • The Guardian
  • Ryze Hydrogen's Instagram feed
  • Office for Zero Emission Vehicles

Read more