Wednesday 5 June 2013

City donors joining UKIP

UKIP is starting to receive large donations from wealthy businessmen and city workers.

Hedge fund manager Crispin Odey organised a party recently to introduce Nigel Farage to potential donors in the city - until now the natural hunting ground of the Tories.  City finance types are concerned about the EU taking control of financial regulation and the prospect of the so-called Tobin tax on financial transactions which the EU wants to contribute to its "own resources" slush fund.

Several donations have been made including a £20k donation from Adrian Buckley who started Buckley Jewellery.  He is concerned about personal freedoms and the size of the state so joined UKIP last year.  Schroders fund manager, Andy Brough, joined UKIP a couple of weeks ago over the relentless attacks on the city by the EU and the coalition.  Brough manages £1.4bn of assets for Schroders.