New figures from the Electoral Commission have given a much-needed boost to Kemi Badenoch this morning, as they showed the Tories topping the ranking for party donations. The quango published data for donations in the second quarter of 2022, suggesting Reform’s celebrity Treasurer Nick Candy is failing to bring in the donations he promised he would secure.
The Tories came top of the list, taking £2.9 million from April to June, with Labour in second on £2.6 million. Reform were the only other party to take in seven figures, securing £1.35 million, however the Liberal Democrats pipped them into third place when taking into account public cash given to parties based on their number of seats. Astonishingly the governing party in Edinburgh, the SNP, took in just £1,200 across the whole of the three month reporting period.
The returns also raised eyebrows in Westminster as they revealed that Lord Alli, the peer behind last year’s freebiegate row, resumed handing money to the Labour Party.
The businessman, embroiled in allegations that he was handed a No. 10 pass in return for donating designer clothes and glasses to top Labour politicians, gave Sir Keir’s party another £20,000 in April.
Kevin Hollinrake MP, Chairman of the Conservative Party, said: “Today’s figures underline the continued strength of support behind The Conservative Party.
“We are building momentum quarter after quarter, and it is clear that people recognise and believe in Kemi’s mission of Conservative renewal.
“These donations give us the resources we need to continue to hold the disastrous Labour government to account and set out real Conservative visions and policies for our great country.”
Reform’s Treasurer will now be under further pressure to secure top business backers, with resentment growing after he promised tens of millions for Nigel Farage’s war chest.
When he defected to Reform from the Tories in December, he promised to “raise Reform more money than any political party in the UK has ever raised – Nigel is going to be the PM”
Asked if he would be putting his hand in his own pocket, he told the Express he has given Reform a sum in the “seven figures”.
However the Electoral Commission says Mr Candy has so far given just £500,000.
A Reform UK source said lots of staff are beginning to question what the Treasurer is doing on a day-to-day basis given the lack of results so far.
