Conservatives top donations in months around election

Image source, PA Media

The Conservatives raised more than 拢37.6m during the last three months of 2019, in a record-breaking year for large donations to political parties.

, the Liberal Democrats took in 拢13.3m during the run-up and aftermath of December's general election.

Labour raised 拢9.8m during the period, whilst the Brexit Party came fourth with 拢7.1m in gifts.

Only donations larger than 拢7,500 are included in the official figures.

The commission said the 拢113m total donated to parties in Great Britain last year was a record, and almost 拢40m more than during the last election year in 2017.

Parties in Northern Ireland raised 拢3.3m in donations last year during the 1 October to 31 December period, recorded in a .

Much of the donation-giving has already been captured as part of mandatory reporting in the weeks leading up to December's poll.

The 拢13.3m recorded by the Lib Dems during the period was largely thanks to a massive 拢8m donation from businessman Lord Sainsbury.

The gift from the supermarket tycoon and former Labour minister is the largest single donation ever recorded by Electoral Commission since it was set up in 2001.

He has previously given to both Labour and the Lib Dems, and had shortly after the 2017 election.

A 拢3m donation from Labour's biggest backer, trade union Unite, was the largest single donation received by the party during the period.

Meanwhile the Brexit Party derived 90% of its registered donations income from a businessman and former Conservative donor Christopher Harborne.

The Green Party reported 拢381,393 in large donations during the period, with Plaid Cymru reporting 拢70,000 and the SNP 拢54,169.