A Tory peer didn’t declare his donations to the Tees Valley Mayor despite interviewing the mayor’s wife for a public role.

Former Stockton South MP James Wharton, now Lord Wharton of Yarm, interviewed Rachel Houchen for a position as a non-executive director at the Office for Students.

Ms Houchen, who is married to Conservative Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, was appointed to the public body that oversees universities in March 2022 and is paid £9,180 per year for an estimated time commitment of 20 days per annum.

The Department for Education said the process met the requirements of the public appointments code The Tory peer’s interest statement, made before he interviewed Ms Houchen, does not make any mention of the donations to her husband. The declaration was secured by The Times through a freedom of information request and has been seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It states: “James knows Rachel Houchen and encouraged her to apply but felt that he could still be objective in his assessment of her interview and whether she fulfilled the criteria. As a result, he was of the view that this was not a conflict, and it was appropriate for him to be involved in the interview. The panel chair and independent panel member were in full agreement.”

In 2019, Lord Wharton donated £10,000 to the Tees Valley Mayor via his company GBMW Limited. Mr Houchen’s register of interests for the Tees Valley Combined Authority in May 2017 and for Transport for the North in May 2018 also both mention donations by the Tory peer. It is not known how much money was given but the mayor’s office confirmed all donations were disclosed in the return for the 2017 election, as required by law.

Mr Houchen, a former leader of Stockton Council’s Conservative Group, campaigned for Lord Wharton in the town during the 2010 and 2015 elections. The former MP, who lost his seat to Paul Williams in 2017, has been the chair of the Office for Students since 2021.

Labour’s shadow universities minister Matt Western said it was another example of Conservative cronyism.

Ms Houchen used to be an assistant headteacher at Conyers School in Yarm. She studied modern languages at Oxford before returning to teach where she’d attended as a pupil.

Labour raised concerns over the political impartiality of the OfS when she was appointed last year. The then education minister Michelle Donelan said it was in line with the governance code for public appointments. Officials also pointed out that Ms Houchen isn’t a member of the Conservative Party.

Ms Houchen told The Times: “The suggestion, in the 21st century, that I was given this role because of my husband is frankly insulting and untrue.

“As a northern, comprehensively educated woman with a long career in education and an active supporter of access to higher education for students from underprivileged backgrounds, that has been recognised nationally, I applied for the OfS role as I have the perspective and skills to provide a more diverse and representative northern voice. Something that is severely lacking in many government bodies.”

Mr Houchen, said: “I am immensely proud of my wife Rachel’s achievements. Comprehensively educated, she went to Oxford University only to return to Conyers Comprehensive School to teach modern foreign languages.

"She progressed to become Assistant Head Teacher and was nominated for a North East Inspirational Teaching Award as well as being selected for the DfE’s Amazing People Teaching campaign – Rachel is very successful and her suitability for the job is evident for all to see.

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“A strong, northern female voice with nearly 15 years first-hand education experience is exactly the sort of person that should be sitting at the table informing national policy and improving the lives and career prospects for our young people.

"It is an insult to her and everyone across the North to imply that her background and the skills she has are not welcome in a London-centric Whitehall bubble that fails to reflect the voices we have in the North.”

The Department for Education said the process met the requirements of the public appointments code before adding that the panel was unanimous that Ms Houchen met the standard for appointment and was a very strong candidate.

Lord Wharton has been contacted for comment.