Tory bosses ‘withdraw funding from Shaun Bailey’s London Mayor campaign and dub him worst candidate in history leaving capital facing four more years of Sadiq Khan’
- Shaun Bailey will contest London Mayor elections against incumbent Sadiq Khan
- The election will take place in May – a year after being delayed by the pandemic
- However, sources claim Tory party has now withdrawn funding from Mr Bailey
Conservative Party chiefs have cut funding from Shaun Bailey’s campaign to become London Mayor, sources have claimed this evening.
Mr Bailey, 49, is set to battle against Labour incumbent Sadiq Khan in May’s mayoral election after it was delayed for a year amid the coronavirus pandemic.
However, party sources have now claimed that the Conservative Central Office has decided to withdraw funding from Mr Bailey’s campaign because of the London Assembly member’s struggles to raise money.
One source even claims that the party see Mr Bailey as the ‘worst candidate in history’ with funding being withdrawn as it is ‘too late to get rid of him’.
Party sources have now claimed that the Conservative Central Office has decided to withdraw funding from Mr Bailey’s campaign
The Tory candidate is set to battle against Labour incumbent Sadiq Khan in May’s mayoral election after it was delayed for a year amid the coronavirus pandemic
Electoral Commission figures show the campaign has raised £575,000 since it was launched in September 2018 – far off the £2.5 million raised by Boris Johnson in 2012.
It was also revealed that £100,000 came from just one source, former party treasurer Lord Ashcroft.
A spokesman from Mr Bailey’s campaign dismissed the reports as ‘hearsay’.
However, according to the Mirror, a source said: ‘Shaun is very poor but he has a very poor team round him and no money.’
Another insider reported: ‘There’s a row because he’s raised no money. They’ve said that’s it, we’ve had enough, we’re pulling the plug’.’
It comes despite Mr Bailey’s campaign receiving donations from hedge fund boss Ric Lewis and property mogul Nick Candy, as well as Lord Ashcroft.
Mr Candy, known for developing One Hyde Park, is thought to have donated £20,000 while Mr Lewis donated £50,000, according to reports.
But despite the backing of the billionaires, sources say fundraising has presented a major problem to the campaign.
It was also claimed that Mr Bailey has a problem with timekeeping, frequently turning up late to events and annoying MPs.
One source even claimed they had ‘never met anybody who was less interested in his own campaign’.
Electoral Commission figures show the campaign has raised £575,000 since it was launched in September 2018 – far off the £2.5 million raised by Boris Johnson in 2012
Responding to the claims a campaign spokesperson said: ‘While fictional accounts often make it to the press during campaigns, the fact is that Shaun Bailey is working day and night to secure the fresh start London needs.
‘Londoners clearly don’t care about hearsay. But they do care about the issues — safe streets, affordable homes, and a better transport network.
‘On all of these issues, Sadiq Khan has failed. That’s why the Bailey campaign is working in lockstep with the London Conservative Party and our growing team of volunteers to deliver the fresh start that London needs.”
A Conservative Party spokeswoman said: ‘Operational and fundraising decisions are a matter for the Shaun Bailey campaign, which continues to have our full support.
‘Shaun Bailey will make a fantastic Mayor of London, and will start fixing Sadiq Khan’s abysmal failures on tackling crime, building affordable homes and managing TfL’s finances on day one.’
It comes after Mr Bailey came under fire for ‘politicising’ the death of Sarah Everard.
After Sarah’s disappearance, he tweeted: ‘As a father and husband it breaks me to think that my wife and daughter have to live in fear in their own city. It doesn’t have to be this way.
‘As Mayor, I‘ll ensure that we are working to deliver for the safety of women and girls in London.’
He later refused to withdraw the remarks despite widespread condemnation.