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The Liberal Democrats have issued a public challenge to Nigel Farage regarding the financial backing of his party, Reform UK, following revelations that the party has allocated over £2 million for personalized letters aimed at postal voters leading up to the local elections.
Daisy Cooper, the deputy leader of the Lib Dems, articulated the need for transparency about the funding sources prior to the upcoming elections on Thursday. This urgency is underscored by the fact that Reform UK reported receiving only £281,000 in donations during the last available quarter of 2024.
Cooper highlighted comments from Reform’s treasurer, Nick Candy, who mentioned that the party is focusing on wealthy donors located in tax-friendly regions like Monaco. She urged Farage to “publicly rule out accepting any donations from wealthy donors linked to Russia or the Trump administration.”
In reply, Reform has asserted that its campaign is primarily financed through smaller, unreported donations and membership fees.
Farage aims to structure his party similarly to the Lib Dems, renowned for their robust election strategies bolstered by an extensive network of volunteers who engage directly with voters.
Despite boasting a considerable membership, Reform UK appears to still lack a solidified grassroots campaigning framework. Instead, the party has compensated for this deficiency in the recent local election campaign by deploying a substantial volume of paid mailings.
According to the Lib Dems, Farage has dispatched two tailored direct mail communications to each of the 1.9 million individuals registered as postal voters for these local and mayoral elections throughout England, projecting a total expenditure of approximately £2.1 million.
This strategy is seen as part of Reform’s expanded resources, particularly in recent months. In March, Farage kicked off the party’s campaign with a rally in Birmingham, complete with a theatrical setting featuring props symbolizing what he described as a “broken” nation, including a derelict pub and a neglected bus stop amidst pothole-ridden streets.
The direct mail packages prominently display an image of Farage alongside a dog, with messaging that links migration to various societal challenges such as inadequate housing and lengthy NHS wait periods.
Under current legislation, political parties must declare any donation exceeding £500 to the Electoral Commission. The Commission’s latest data, which covers donations for the last quarter of 2024, was made public in March and indicated that Reform UK secured £280,000 during that time frame.
Nick Candy, a prominent property developer, assumed the role of treasurer for Reform in December. While the party has expressed optimism that Candy will attract substantial financial contributions, details regarding the origins of any new funding remain unclear.
According to electoral regulations, individuals can only contribute if they are registered on the UK electoral roll. A legal amendment enacted by the Conservative government permits donations from those who have resided outside the UK for over 15 years, thereby expanding Reform’s potential donor pool, particularly from locales like Monaco.
Cooper’s correspondence with Farage emphasizes the need for clarity surrounding the financial sources for Reform UK’s local election campaigning, especially in light of the substantial costs associated with their recent direct mail efforts.
She questioned, “The Electoral Commission will not disclose information on donations for the first quarter of 2025 until after polling day on 1 May. This means voters will not be informed of potential funding sources before they cast their votes.”
Cooper further inquired whether Farage would categorically reject donations from affluent individuals associated with Russia or the Trump administration before the local elections took place.
A spokesperson for Reform responded, stating, “The figures released by the Electoral Commission pertain only to large donations. Our highly effective election campaign has been funded by our members and grassroots donors.”
Adding to this, they claimed, “Reform possesses two-and-a-half times as many members as the Liberal Democrats, so we comprehend how this concept may seem unfamiliar to them—225,000 members at £25 each per year translates to £5.6 million.”
Source
www.theguardian.com