Ukip get Cash injection as Banks boosts party coffers

A former Conservative supporter in the UK called Arron Banks has donated £1m to Ukip after William Hague called him a “nobody”, while a Tory veteran's son has said he will join the party.

Ukip get Cash injection as Banks boosts party coffers

A former Conservative supporter in the UK called Arron Banks has donated £1m to Ukip after William Hague called him a “nobody”, while a Tory veteran's son has said he will join the party.

Millionaire businessman Arron Banks had originally decided to donate £100,000 to Nigel Farage’s party but following Mr Hague’s intervention he has increased it to £1 million.

Mr Banks, who runs GoSkippy insurance, said: “I woke up this morning intending to donate £100,000 to Ukip and I understand Mr Hague called me a nobody.

“So, in light of that and in view that I am a strong advocate of leaving the European Union, I have decided today to donate £1 million to the party and not the £100,000 we originally agreed.”

Mr Banks was accompanied by Mr Farage and party chairman Steve Crowther when he made the announcement at a press conference at a country hotel near Bristol.

Veteran Tory Sir Bill Cash has said he has tried to talk his son out of his plan to stand as a candidate under the Ukip banner next year and insisted he will remain “unbudgeable” on the issue.

The party announced in a press release yesterday that William Cash was hoping to stand in Warwickshire in the general election. He was also appointed the party’s heritage spokesman.

Sir Bill, who was unaware of his son’s decision until the news was made public, said he had explained to him why he did not think it was the right thing to do and would be counter-productive.

“That is to do with the politics of the matter,” he told the Press Association.

“I think that Ukip are only going to take away votes from the Conservative Party in marginal seats ... What will happen then is their own objectives will be undermined.

“If people vote for the Ukip party we are left without being able to pass the necessary legislation.

“That means you get the Labour Party, you get all the Liberal Democrats, or a combination of the two, which is the most likely. You get more Europe.”

Sir Bill said William had claimed his decision was about heritage, adding: “I personally think there are much bigger issues.”

He said their conversation had been “perfectly civilised”, but added: “I don’t know if he will listen to me. He has gone public with this.

“He has his own views. I’m making my position crystal clear.”

The Stone MP, a well-known eurosceptic, also said the news had come as a complete surprise because his son had to date been “entirely apolitical”.

He went on: “I don’t really see what the point of doing this now is.

“I will certainly be talking to him [again]. There is time for discussion but at the same time if he decides to go ahead, my advice and views remain entirely consistent. I’m unbudgeable.”

But William said his decision had been a “long time coming”.

He went on: “I have been a passionate advocate of Britain’s successful heritage business but believe that it and the countryside have been badly let down by this Conservative-led government.

“There is a critical need to get the policies right in relation to Green Belt, tourism, heritage and countryside planning. This is especially the case with local economies in areas like the South East and the West Midlands where tourism is critical to the regional economies.”

Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: “I am delighted to be welcoming William to the party and am appointing him as our heritage spokesman. William is already a consultant on National Heritage for the Government and various other organisations.

“He has vast experience in the field and will be a great addition to the team, working closely with Stuart Agnew on countryside matters and Peter Whittle on cultural affairs.”

It comes as veteran Tory Sir Bill Cash has said he has tried to talk his son out of his plan to stand as a candidate under the Ukip banner next year and insisted he will remain “unbudgeable” on the issue.

The party announced in a press release yesterday that William Cash was hoping to stand in Warwickshire in the general election. He was also appointed the party’s heritage spokesman.

Sir Bill, who was unaware of his son’s decision until the news was made public, said he had explained to him why he did not think it was the right thing to do and would be counter-productive.

“That is to do with the politics of the matter,” he told the Press Association.

“I think that Ukip are only going to take away votes from the Conservative Party in marginal seats ... What will happen then is their own objectives will be undermined.

“If people vote for the Ukip party we are left without being able to pass the necessary legislation.

“That means you get the Labour Party, you get all the Liberal Democrats, or a combination of the two, which is the most likely. You get more Europe.”

Sir Bill said William had claimed his decision was about heritage, adding: “I personally think there are much bigger issues.”

He said their conversation had been “perfectly civilised”, but added: “I don’t know if he will listen to me. He has gone public with this.

“He has his own views. I’m making my position crystal clear.”

The Stone MP, a well-known eurosceptic, also said the news had come as a complete surprise because his son had to date been “entirely apolitical”.

He went on: “I don’t really see what the point of doing this now is.

“I will certainly be talking to him [again]. There is time for discussion but at the same time if he decides to go ahead, my advice and views remain entirely consistent. I’m unbudgeable.”

But William said his decision had been a “long time coming”.

He went on: “I have been a passionate advocate of Britain’s successful heritage business but believe that it and the countryside have been badly let down by this Conservative-led government.

“There is a critical need to get the policies right in relation to Green Belt, tourism, heritage and countryside planning. This is especially the case with local economies in areas like the South East and the West Midlands where tourism is critical to the regional economies.”

Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: “I am delighted to be welcoming William to the party and am appointing him as our heritage spokesman. William is already a consultant on National Heritage for the Government and various other organisations.

“He has vast experience in the field and will be a great addition to the team, working closely with Stuart Agnew on countryside matters and Peter Whittle on cultural affairs.”

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