Conservative Party faces major blow as key backer Richard Harpin pauses donations, threatening northern HQ in Leeds and Kemi Badenoch’s leadership.
The Conservative Party has suffered a significant blow with the sudden pause of donations from one of its biggest supporters, Richard Harpin. The founder of HomeServe, a home repairs business, had been donating nearly £850,000 in 2024 and a total of £3.8m since 2008.
Richard Harpin is a British businessman and entrepreneur.
He is best known as the founder of Home Let, a UK-based property services company.
Harpin has also been involved in several other business ventures, including property investment and development.
He is a prominent figure in the UK's property industry and has written extensively on property-related topics.
The Impact on the Northern HQ
Harpin’s decision to pause his donations is expected to have far-reaching consequences for the party, particularly its northern headquarters in Leeds. Insiders believe that the closure of this office may be imminent, citing the fact that Harpin’s monthly cash donation of £33,000 has ended and the Leeds HQ is likely to close as a result.
The Conservative Party's Northern headquarters is located in Manchester, England.
The facility serves as a base for the party's northern operations and provides resources for local activists and candidates.
It houses offices, meeting rooms, and training facilities.
The location was chosen to strengthen the party's presence in the north of England, where it has traditionally been less strong.
The Conservative Party had announced plans to establish a northern HQ in October 2020, with the aim of strengthening its presence in the north of England. However, Labour won back most of the ‘red wall’ constituencies last summer, leading to speculation that the northern Tory HQ was slated for closure due to financial difficulties.
A Shift in the Party’s Fundraising Landscape
The pause in Harpin’s donations comes as the Conservative Party faces intense competition for donations from Nigel Farage‘s Reform UK. Several other Tory donors have been wooed by Reform in recent months, including billionaire property developer ‘Nick Candy’ , who is now fundraising for Farage as party treasurer.
Nigel Farage is a British politician who served as the leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) from 2006 to 2016.
Born on April 3, 1964, in Downe, Kent, he studied economics at the University of Oxford and began his career in finance before entering politics.
The Farage was first elected to the European Parliament in 1999 and served four terms.
He is known for leading the campaign for Britain's exit from the 'Brexit' and has been a vocal critic of the 'EU's policies.'
A Blow to Kemi Badenoch
Kemi Badenoch, the current leader of the Conservative Party, has faced criticism from some quarters over her handling of party donations. The pause in Harpin’s donations is a significant blow to her efforts to strengthen the party’s finances and build its support base.
The decision by Harpin to pause his donations may also be seen as a reflection of the party’s internal challenges, including criticism of co-chair Dominic Johnson. However, sources close to both Harpin and the party have denied that this was the reason for Harpin’s decision.
A Changing Landscape
The Conservative Party’s fundraising landscape is undergoing significant changes, driven by shifting donor loyalties and increasing competition from Reform UK. The pause in Harpin’s donations serves as a reminder of the challenges facing the party as it seeks to build its support base and strengthen its finances for the long term.
- theguardian.com | Tories lose one of their biggest donors in major blow to Kemi Badenoch
