**Major donors are reportedly hesitant to finance the Conservative campaign, while Tory MPs are complaining that a snap election did not give them enough time to build up their campaign funds.

Meanwhile, Reform UK's membership has surged with thousands of new members and pledges from large donors.

****The donations are believed to include a substantial check from pop singer and actor Ms.

Valance, a party supporter who is married to property developer Nick Candy, according to The Guardian.

The party had previously relied on £1.

4 million in loans from its former leader, who stepped aside to allow Mr.

Farage to become leader in a surprising move.

****New members pay £25 to join, and according to party sources, close to 14,000 have signed up over the past seven days, pushing overall membership numbers to 45,000.

Another high-profile supporter is Charlie Mullins, the founder of Pimlico Plumbers, who has previously donated more than £70,000 to the Tories.

****Last month, Mr.

Tice warned that it would not be easy for his party to run an effective ground campaign in the election with the money it had.

Reform UK was spending less than £1.

5 million a year, compared to the £35 million each party is allowed to spend in this election, a higher figure than in previous years.

****A poll by YouGov earlier this week put Reform just a point behind the Conservatives, who had fallen to 18 percent.

The Tories are bracing for the possibility that in the coming days, a poll could show Reform ahead, pushing the Conservatives into third place, which would be a significant moment in an already disastrous election campaign.

****The former UKIP leader was due to take part in a debate, set to have been broadcast on Tuesday night.

The move came less than 24 hours after it was suggested that the party would have been far better off if it had taken up his offer of neutrality instead of fighting.

Ian Gribbin, who is standing in Bexhill and Battle, also described the situation as abysmal and praised the party, according to the BBC.

****Want to bookmark your favorite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

**