UKIP receives more donations than Lib Dems for first time

For the first time, UKIP has received more than the Lib Dems in party donations.

 

According to the Electoral Commission, UKIP reported being given £1.4m during the second quarter of the year, exceeding the amount that the Lib Dems received by £170,000.

 

A spokesperson for UKIP commented that it was "a sign that electorally and financially we are now superseding the Liberal Democrats".

 

But the Lib Dems said that their £1.2m in donations constituted more individual donations than ever before, reflecting their broad base of supporters. 

 

They said that the amount received by UKIP demonstrated the fact that UKIP was a one-man party – "one man politically and one man financially", making a reference to the fact that over £1m of the total sum donated to UKIP came from Yorkshire businessman Pual Sykes. 

 

The Conservatives reported £7.2m in donations, more than any of the other parties by a considerable degree. Labour, meanwhile, reported £3.8m.