Wes Streeting Under the Knife
Why Wes Streeting's Private Healthcare Donations Matter
Wes Streeting has been in the media a lot lately hasn’t he? When he isn’t challenging the PM for leadership of the Labour party, he’s busy accepting donations from private healthcare firms or individuals with interests in private healthcare.
It is no secret that since becoming an MP in 2015, Wes Streeting has has accepted donations from individuals and companies with links to the private healthcare sector. Throughout his parliamentary career, a significant portion of his funding has come from these sources. Reports indicate he has accepted over £372,000 from such donors between 2015 and early 2026, more than 60% in fact. (The Good Law Project).
So who is Wes Streeting funded by? Let’s dig a little deeper!
The largest contributions to Streeting according to the Electoral Commission comes from MPM Connect Ltd, and OPD Group Ltd. The two companies are controlled by Peter Hearn, a recruitment executive (with a lot of money and influence). Together, they have donated an estimated total of £237,000 - £240,000 to the Ilford North MP, since he took his seat in 2015. Streeting’s other big donors consist of personal donations made from Peter Hearn himself, John Armitage, and Sir Trevor Chinn with some smaller donations coming from Kevin Craig, and Red Capital.
OPD Group Ltd
OPD Group Ltd is a private limited company operating out of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire. Controlled by Peter Hearn, it is a healthcare recruitment firm often involved in headhunting senior executive staff for the private sector and the NHS. The company has only four registered employees, Hearne stated that this was because it was an investment vehicle. The nature of the business is listed as "Activities of other holding companies". The company has been strongly linked to donations to high profile politicians, including Wes Streeting.
MPM Connect Ltd
MPM Connect Ltd is a UK based investment company controlled by Peter Hearn. The company does not have any front facing business operations, nor does it employ any staff. It functions solely as a holding company and investment vehicle. Because of its lack of staff or lack of any front facing business operations, transparency campaigners such as ‘Everydoctor’ argue that the company serves as a private financial conduit. It allows Peter Hearne to inject large sums of capital into the UK political system under a corporate entity, instead of making personal donations.
Peter Hearn
Peter Hearn is a British Millionaire businessman and recruitment mogul. He is known for being a prominent political donor to high profile politicians in the UK. He also serves as director and controller of OPD Group Ltd along with multiple different search and recruitment firms. Due to his large financial contributions to high profile politicians within the UK parliamentary system, Hearn has attracted significant media attention and scrutiny.
John Armitage
John Armitage is a British/Irish billionaire hedge fund manager and investor. He is best known for being the CEO of London based investment firm Egerton Capital. Armitage manages billions in assets and has been described as a giant in the hedge fund world. In 2019, the Sunday Times Rich List estimated his net worth at £600 million. He has further capitalised on this figure and as of October 2024, Forbes estimated his net worth at $1.5 billion US dollars (£1.1 billion). He is recognized as one of the top-earning hedge fund managers. He is also a highly influential donor to the Labour party having donated large sums of money to Sir Keir Starmer as well as Wes Streeting.
Sir Trevor Chinn
Sir Trevor Chinn is a prominent multi millionaire businessman and highly influential political activist aligning himself with the Labour Party. He has made substantial donations to the Labour Party as well as individual donations to high profile MP’s within the Labour Party, Wes Streeting included. He also has leadership roles in various British Jewish and pro-Israel organisations. He was knighted for his charitable, philanthropic work, and has led various UK social and public campaigns. Everydoctor and Good Law Project note that Sir Trevor is a principal leader for the influence of private sector healthcare policy.
Kevin Craig
Kevin Craig is a British businessman, corporate communications expert, political commentator, and philanthropist. He is best known for founding the company PMLR (Political Lobbying and Media Relations) which has been a very successful public relations and crisis management agency established in 2006. Craig’s interest in private healthcare lies in his cross public relations involving political lobbying and his philanthropy. Craig’s political consultancy advises a Swiss-French firm who provides temporary employees to the NHS (Good Law Project).
Red Capital
Red Capital is a shell acquisition company based in Jersey, controlled by Lord Jonathan Mendelsohn who is a sitting director for private healthcare firm Europa Healthcare Group. It was established in 2021, and operates as a ‘special purpose vehicle’ looking to acquire or invest in businesses in the technology or business services sectors. It donated £5000 to fund extra staff for Wes Streeting’s office.
Why is all this bad?
It is bad because there are potential conflicts of interest. Wes Streeting being the Health Secretary, oversees the NHS, a publically funded entity. The donations he has accepted from firms and individuals with interests in private healthcare, undermine his position in taking care of our NHS, and may push policy towards privatisation which would prioritise profits over patients. This would also undermine public trust in the NHS.
It is a concern when donors that are affiliated with private healthcare such as MPM Connect or Sir Trevor chin, may ask for policy favours such as NHS outsourcing in return for funding. The public will also view this as a betrayal by ministers to act in the patients’ best interests, instead favouring corporate stakeholders. Also the question can be raised why does a cabinet minister responsible for a public service, have close financial ties with donors who seek to make a profit from that same service? Streeting argues that using private sector capacity is a "pragmatic" and "principled" move to reduce NHS waiting lists and ensure patients receive faster care.
Conclusion
The UK’s private healthcare market is currently worth £13bn approximately. It is no coincidence then, that funding for Wes Streeting comes overwhelmingly from donors with vested interests in private healthcare. These people (and the people behind these firms) are not stupid! What do they want for their money? Because you don’t invest in something without expecting a return. Anyone who cares about the NHS and it’s future, will want to know why it is largely being funded by billionaires with interests in private healthcare, and why is Streeting such a staunch supporter for private sector involvement? As stated by Jo Maugham of Good Law Project “It’s our NHS, and we have a right to know”!
N.B As of today 14th May 2026, Wes Streeting has resigned from the cabinet as Health and Social Care Secretary, stating he has “lost confidence in Keir Starmer’s leadership”. His replacement is yet to be announced. Will he/she be any better? We shall have to wait and see!