Reclaim Party’s Limited Results Leave Questions Around Major Donor’s Investment
Nearly a month has passed since the London mayoral election, making it easy to forget Laurence Fox’s bid, which brought in just 1.9% of the vote. Fox, known for his stance against “divisive and discriminatory wokery,” captured brief public interest with his Reclaim Party campaign but ultimately made little headway in the race.
The Electoral Commission recently confirmed that Fox and the Reclaim Party raised £1,153,300 in the first quarter of 2021. Surprisingly, nearly all of this amount was funded by a single donor, Jeremy Hosking—fund manager, Crystal Palace shareholder, and Brexit Party backer. For context, the Liberal Democrats received £1,278,073 in the same quarter, meaning Hosking’s contribution accounted for roughly £24 per each of Fox’s 47,634 votes.
While Hosking certainly has the freedom to invest as he wishes, the campaign’s muted results may raise questions about the return on his investment. Despite the financial backing, Fox’s campaign struggled to engage a significant audience, leaving one to wonder if, deep down, Hosking feels he got value for his considerable support.
