Labour trails Tories in campaign cash race

The electoral fundraising challenge facing Labour was underlined today by the publication of new figures showing the Tories brought in four times as much cash in donations in a single week in May.

Theresa May’s party raised £1.64m between May 10 and 16, the Electoral Commission said.

Labour received donations of just over £380,000 as the main political parties registered nearly £2.5m in support cumulatively.

The totals – produced as the second of six weekly updates – highlight the Tories’ success in winning donations from the City and wealthy entrepreneurs in the weeks since May called a snap election.

Labour went into the short campaign in a strong position, however, after two successive leadership campaigns which led to a record high for its membership as well as additional income from the fees paid by people joining as registered supporters.

Total donations between 10 and 16 May 2017

Conservatives: £1,639,108

Labour: £382,925

Lib Dems: £160,000

UKIP: £35,000

Women’s Equality Party: £18,936

Greens: £18,500