Conservative Donors Pour Cash into Key Election Battlegrounds

Conservative donors have poured more than £2.5m into key election battlegrounds to shore 🧾 up support for MPs, such as Liam Fox and Penny Mordaunt, who are in danger of losing their seats. The 🧾 2024 election will be the highest-spending UK contest, after the government raised national election limits to £34m per party – 🧾 leaving the Conservatives and Labour in an arms race to raise cash. Tory candidates and their associations in some of 🧾 the most closely contested seats have been bringing in £50,000–£100,000 from donors over the last year, as tight local spending 🧾 limits kick in only during the last five weeks of the campaign.

Conservative Candidates Rush Out Mailshots Before Spending Deadline

A last-minute 🧾 splurge by candidates is expected next week before the campaign deadline of 30 May. MPs and activists across the parties 🧾 said they were rushing out mailshots before the regulated period for spending kicks in, and tens of thousands of pounds 🧾 were being spent on targeted letters and surveys. A briefing pack for Conservative candidates urges them to spend as much 🧾 as possible between now and 30 May getting targeted social media adverts and campaign material out, as whatever can be 🧾 delivered and posted between now and 30 May will not count towards candidate election expenses.

Experts Warn of Powerful Donors Influencing 🧾 Results

Experts have warned that the parties are increasingly getting their funds from a small number of big donors with the 🧾 power to influence results in marginal seats – despite Labour's commanding lead in the national polls. The prime minister has 🧾 made light of his disastrous general election announcement, but experts warn of the dangers of powerful donors influencing results in 🧾 marginal seats.