Such cash-for-clout deals are a common feature of the political conference circuit. Reform’s MacKinnon admits firms may not have the “urgency” at this stage in the election cycle to warrant that bigger showing, and public affairs professionals agree that putting budgets toward lobbying the incumbent Labour administration remains the wisest choice.
Towler — now running for a seat on Reform’s governing board — insists some firms are still scared to even attend the conference due to the potential reputational risk of associating with Farage. There remains a perception, Towler says, that those on the winning side of the Brexit referendum are simply “evil bastards.”
“With corporates there’s still a lot of reticence,” he notes. “I’ve literally had people say I’d like to come along to one of your events but don’t tell anybody I’m coming.
“Just grow up. We’ve always had support amongst entrepreneurs, the people who can make decisions for themselves. But as soon as you get to having a board, or having shareholders, there is fear.”
Both MacKinnon and Towler agree that the party’s sudden growth in popularity has exposed significant gaps in its policymaking machine — and so firms willing to dip their toe in the water at these early stages will have better access and opportunities to put meat on the bones of a future Reform agenda.
“We’ve been quite honest when we meet people — those that engage earlier on will have a stronger, longer relationship with us, as you can expect,” MacKinnon says. “That’s just the way it is in every industry and in every sector. So, we are encouraging early engagement, and when we say that to people they understand it fully.”
