Tories rely on millions from secretive clubs as membership plummets in marginals

More than half of the money raised for the Tories in many of their key seats come from donations made by unincorporated associations – who do not have to declare where their money comes from. Since the last election, over £5.5million has been given to the Conservative Party from these private clubs and business groups.

Harriet Harman will today highlight these figures in a speech in London, where she will point out that analysis of the Tories accounts shows that membership is falling in 75% of their marginal seats – where much of the money from “secretive clubs” is being funnelled. Harman will claim this shows how the Tories will be able to outspend Labour at the next election, but not out-organise or out-campaign with their weaker activist base.

Harman will say:

“There’s one group of people bankrolling the Tories whose identity is completely secret.

“Since the last election, the Tories have been given over five and a half million pounds by unincorporated associations – organisations who don’t declare where their money comes from. They donated £372,000 in the last 3 months alone.

“And this money is being funnelled into the Tories’ key marginal seats. In 27 of their key seats, more than half the money raised since 2010 has come from these secretive clubs.

“It’s no wonder they need this shady money. In three quarters of their most marginal seats, their membership is falling.

“We may be outspent, but we won’t be out-organised or out-campaigned. They want to buy the election. We’re fighting to win it.”