The biggest surprise in the by elections is that Reform UK trounced the Lib Dem’s!

I'm interested in where those who claim to know where Reform's funding come from have found that out?

They are a company, and thus legally have to file accounts with Companies House. They file only micro (or filleted) accounts, so no profit and loss accounts and no details of income from donations/fundraising.

If you can tell me, therefore, where you have found out who their donors are, I would be grateful.

The limited filed accounts do show over £1.1m of debt, most of which is a directors loan. They also owed other people, as at December 2022, more than they could pay.

Freya, Jeremy Hoskin funds the Reclaim party (Laurence Fox), not sure he also funds Reform but prepared to be corrected.

Doesnt look as if its disappearing.

Oreo

Meant to add, that Reform votes will affect both Labour and Conservative Parties IMO.
Not great as I wanted to Labour to have a big majority.

I’m not bothered about Reform tbh - it is the brexity party and that vote is disappearing by the day the longer we go on.

That is not to say that Labour’s win is a done deal though - far from it. There is a lot more to do.

Meant to add, that Reform votes will affect both Labour and Conservative Parties IMO.
Not great as I wanted to Labour to have a big majority.

Sorry OP I worded that first sentence badly.

Urmstongran

The Lib Dems were 4th place in both by elections yesterday. Unless they input Ed Davey’s lib dem votes into a Horizon computer? Not seen much of him these days have we? I think he’s toxic for the party.

Moving on. Tory say if you vote Reform UK we are handing the keys to No.10 to Keir Starmer. Well as far as I can see that’s a given now anyway so I’m happy to vote Reform UK at the GE.

They need a boost though. More membership money or donations. Farage joining in some centre stage capacity would definitely boost their ratings.

Meanwhile the Lib Dems must be in turmoil. “We need to talk about Ed” …

I read in BBC news online that Reform came 3rd not 4th.
After them came the Lib Dem vote.
A few posters seem to think that it’s all Conservative voters going over to Reform but it’s more nuanced than that, I work in a care home and we were talking about this at break this morning, two people said they’d vote Reform at the next election and they’d voted Labour up to now.I think there will be a good few former Labour members voting that way for various reasons.The Lib Dem vote seems to be nosediving.

Nicenanny3

Liberal Democrats lose their deposits in both by-elections
Party’s share of vote plummets on 2019 election result as it receives less than five per cent of votes cast and forfeits the £500 payment(Daily Telegraph)

Bet Ed's not a happy bunny today😊

Unless there was a 'behind the scenes' agreement to give Labour a better chance ...

Interestingly I’ve just read that the reform vote was by no means composed of fed-up Tory voters. I think that they probably are composed of the rump of Brexiters - so in that case I don’t hold out much for their future.

I also think that a lot of Tory voters stayed home.

Btw many under 35’s are not “non political” nor “apathetic”, simply disillusioned.

GrannyGravy13

This Conservative voter would never vote Lib Dem’s.

No idea who is standing in my constituency.

I disagree. I think they will.

Galaxy

This labour voter would never vote lib dem. I did it once for complex reasons , never again.

I think it depends where they live. The LibDems stand a good chance of picking up a few of the leafy shire seats, so are likely to be the main opposition to the Conservatives.

Frankly, I would rather cut off my own limbs than vote for Reform UK or any other right leaning party or any party associated with Farage!

It’s time for a change, 14 years of Tory rule has left many far worse off in so many ways and the constant restructures in the party and changes at the top haven’t helped build confidence.

Bring on the GE Sunak please and stop messing!

Visgir1

The same will happen with the GE.. It will be a very low turn out.
Labour will win but not with a massive majority, I know quite a few under 35 Yr old who have never voted and are not interested.
Such a shame as its their future.

There's also a rumour the GE will be held in October, which is the time students will be settling into their new accommodation and could miss out on the window to register to vote. They need to be organised and get themselves a postal vote from their parents' address.

Alarming news about Reform's increased share of the vote, although not unexpected. A protest vote by disaffected rightwing Conservatives?
Tice's girlfriend is Isabel Oakshott, I think, often seen on TV.

Nicenanny3

Fantastic results for The Reform Party since they have only been going since 2020, Lib Dems are finished in my opinion. The usual bitter Labour supporters 🤔 why your party won what are you worried about, obviously the success and rise of the Reform Party 😊

Well, since 2020 if you discount how many times they’ve reinvented themselves..BNP, UKIP, Reform…

This labour voter would never vote lib dem. I did it once for complex reasons , never again.

The Reform party want to take votes from the Tories. I think some former Tory voters will give Reform their votes.
I wonder if all the Tory voters who didn't vote in these elections will turn out at the GE?

nanna8

Is the Reform party a break off party from the Conservatives? I hadn’t heard of it. Not sure what they believe in. I assume they were connected with Farage ?

One and the same. Just changed their name. Still the same awful, divisive people who should be consigned to history.

vegansrock

As far as I understand you can’t “join” Reform and have a say in the leadership in any democratic sense. you can send them money though. They are counting on the gullible here methinks.

Absolutely. Mostly spent on Farage's beer on his little jolly down south? Awful human being. He's a nobody who will get nowhere, as has been proved time and time again.

This Conservative voter would never vote Lib Dem’s.

No idea who is standing in my constituency.

Urmstongran

Reform’s real triumph - they scored three times more than the LibDems. Now there is a truly independent party for those who choose “none of the above”. Excellent news.

Completely agree. Reform U.K. for me too.

vegansrock

As far as I understand you can’t “join” Reform and have a say in the leadership in any democratic sense. you can send them money though. They are counting on the gullible here methinks.

Same as ukip/Brexit. Farage made a killing and the money was never accounted for.

Still people can do what they want with their money - clearly enough to burn.

I apologise in advance "Urmstongran" I meant YOU collective not you personally. I didn't know how this highlighting thing happened 🤔

As far as I understand you can’t “join” Reform and have a say in the leadership in any democratic sense. you can send them money though. They are counting on the gullible here methinks.