To survive and thrive as a political party and ultimately to achieve power, you need four things: charismatic politicians, a professional party organisation, money and, of course, votes.. Then the party was transformed from a limited company, wholly owned by Farage, into a conventional political party, modelled on the constitution of the Liberal Democrats.
Within two months, hundreds of local associations have been set up, with a total membership of more than 105,000, closing in on the Conservatives membership of 132,000.. Farage promised to go after Labour voters and is now said to be obsessing No 10 strategists who seem to have no clue how to respond to the threat posed by Reform UK., and husband of Australian soap star Holly Valance, announced that not only was he defecting to Reform UK, he was taking up a position as its party treasurer.
Candy will be judged on the money he brings in. Luring Tory donors over will be his first priority, but it may be a difficult task. Associating with Reform UK still carries a degree of toxicity about it, and leading City figures may not want to be seen as allies of Farage.
Candy also brings his wife of 12 years, Valance. She’s not afraid to express her views either and seems far more sure of where she lies on the political spectrum than her husband, telling an interviewer earlier this year: “I would say that everyone starts off as a leftie and then wakes up at some point after making money, working, trying to run a business, trying to buy a home – then realises what crap ideas they all are, and then you go to the right.
When the history of Reform UK is written, it’s perfectly possible that the appointment of Candy will be seen as far more significant development than the recruitment of Jenkyns or Montgomerie, or dare I say it, Suella Braverman, if she eventually decides to jump ship.IAIN DALE