Earlier in the summer it was reported how senior figures in Reform UK had grown frustrated with party treasurer Nick Candy, saying big donations had failed to materialise, including his own “seven-figure” pledge.
Candy, a luxury property developer brought in to fundraise, has repeatedly claimed publicly that he would bring in tens of millions of pounds in donations.
New figures published by the Electoral Commission show that the party reported just £1.35m in donations in the second quarter of 2025, down on the £1.48m reported in the first quarter.
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As for Candy’s own donations, they so far total £500,000, split into four six-figure instalments.
Johan Christofferson, a hedge fund manager and one of Boris Johnson’s biggest backers, was among those now donating to Reform, handing over £100,000 alongside Greybull Capital and the lettings firm Lowry Propco. Tech billionaire and former Conservative donor Bassim Haidar, meanwhile, made three donations totalling £200,000 – just £800,000 shy of the £1m promised when he defected to Reform in April.
The Tories, struggling in the polls, somehow managed to take in £2.9m in donations during the latest reporting period, £300,000 more than Labour. The Lib Dems’ donations halved from £1.5m in the first quarter to £773,000 for the second. Leader Ed Davey did, however, find time to record an audiobook – on which he spent 40 hours and earned £1,750, according to an update in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.
