More than eight former Conservative donors attended the Reform UK fundraiser held on Tuesday, which raised over £1 million. The high-profile event, hosted at the exclusive Oswald’s private members’ club in Mayfair, saw attendance from significant figures, including Bassim Haidar and Mohamed Amersi, who both confirmed to the Financial Times they paid £25,000 for VIP tickets to sit with party leader Nigel Farage.
Haidar, a well-known Lebanese entrepreneur, revealed to the financial news outlet, "there were at least eight major former Tory donors" present, indicating growing concern over the Conservative Party's appeal. Amersi, also heavily involved with the Tories, estimated several more disgruntled donors attended the gathering, which attracted about 100 wealthy guests.
Both Haidar and Amersi have made substantial contributions to the Conservative Party, with Haidar having donated £675,000 over the past two years, and Amersi more than £500,000 since 2018. Haidar has recently expressed dissatisfaction with the Conservatives, particularly their crackdown on non-domicile tax status, stating he views Reform UK as 'a strong alternative to the Tories.' Amersi echoed these sentiments, describing Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch as lacking 'policies, no outreach, no connectivity' and criticized her for not knowing her political ground.
The gathering also drew attention to the broader support Reform UK is gaining amid dissatisfaction with the major parties. A recent poll by the aggregation site Election Maps UK shows the party has surged to 24% public support, just behind Labour at 25.9%, and slightly above the Conservatives at 23.5%.
The event was brimming with celebratory flair, featuring Dom Pérignon champagne and special entertainment, including Farage’s rendition of the Village People’s classic 'YMCA.' This song, which has ties to both LGBTQ celebrations and U.S. political rallies, added a surprising element to the evening, capturing the gathering’s flamboyant character.
Other notable attendees included Brexit campaigner Aaron Banks, Andrew Reid, the former treasurer of the UK Independence Party, and young members of the Barclay family. The festivities were reminiscent of campaign-style events, where Farage reportedly told attendees, 'If you give us the ammunition, we will do incredibly well' during the upcoming local elections.
The fallout from such gatherings raises questions about the future of the Conservative Party. Despite their efforts to rebrand and attract new donors, reports indicate increasing dissatisfaction among their base. A YouGov poll released this week revealed around 33% of the remaining Conservative voters were considering switching their allegiance to Reform UK.
Many former Conservative supporters are beginning to express their concerns more vocally. Rael Braverman, husband of former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and now aligned with Reform UK, was also spotted at the event.
When questioned about the growing number of former donors at Reform UK, spokespersons for Kemi Badenoch insisted the party is striving to attract 'new donors.' They highlighted efforts to stabilize party finances post-election loss and remain optimistic about future fundraising.
Yet the reality of the Conservative Party’s situation appears stark. Political analysts suggest the Tories are struggling to secure widespread support, even with Labour's challenges since winning power. The upcoming 2025 local elections present increasing pressure for the Conservatives to renew their appeal.
With the political climate shifting, especially surrounding key issues like immigration policy, experts highlight this as potentially beneficial for parties like Reform UK, which is regarded favorably by dissatisfied former Conservative supporters.
Whether this burgeoning support will transform the political scene or whether the Conservative Party will reclaim ground remains to be seen. Party dynamics will likely continue to shift, particularly as influencers and key figures voice their support for Reform UK.
Regardless, with gatherings like the recent fundraiser for Reform UK and the influential figures who attended, the political narrative about the Conservative Party’s future awaits its next chapter.