Data published by the Electoral Commission shows that donations to the Conservative Party in Q3 of 2022 have fallen.
The Tories raised £2.9 million in donations between July and September this year, the lowest quarterly amount recorded since mid-2020.
A Tory source told the BBC that the drop-off was down to Q3 coinciding with the Conservatives’ leadership election, during which donors would have donated to individual leadership campaigns.
However, it is likely that inner turmoil within the Conservative party has also had an impact, after the period saw the resignation of Boris Johnson and the short-lived but turbulent premiership of Liz Truss, which rocked the markets in the wake of her mini-Budget. She was soon replaced by incumbent, Rishi Sunak.
Indeed, Tory donations for the second quarter of the year totalled in at a sizeable £1.9 million more than the £2.9 million mustered in Q3.
Meanwhile, Labour received £2.8 million over the third quarter, with £1.6 million of that being donated by trade unions.
The Unite union donated £728,000 despite a row with Labour earlier in the year, while Unison gave the party £196,000.
However, Labour chieftains have also been encouraged by businesses beginning to donate more to its cause.
A Labour spokesperson said that donors were “coming back” to the party it was clear that Labour was “changed” and “serious about getting into government and building a fairer, greener, more dynamic Britain.”
Elsewhere, the data shows that Labour was given £1.9 million in public funds to help pay for its activities in Parliament.
The Liberal Democrats were shown to have received donations valuing £1.4 million and claimed £296,342 in public funds.
The Scottish National Party was awarded £393,300 in public funds but did not register any donations.
Image by Prime Minister's Office - OGL 3 - on Wikimedia Commons
