According to the ever-reliable Samizdata, Ukip is extraordinarily well-endowed with money because – even though the people who run big companies are keen on the EU – small businessmen with cash to flash hate it. And people who run big companies can’t donate money as easily as small businessmen, because it’s not their money to give.
This makes some intuitive sense. The stereotypical successful small businessman and sterotypical Ukipper are the same person: big house in suburbia, possibly a mason, definitely a golfer, not too keen on immigrants (except the ones he employs below the minimum wage), planning to retire to Spain but avoid the locals and local food… you get the idea.
If the post is right (a big if), this could be worrying.
The comments thread is also entertaining: a well-meaning pro-EU small businessman points out obvious and true things (eg that the ‘EU auditors not signing the accounts for 10 years’ meme is only true because all farmers everywhere, ever, are crooked, and therefore it’s impossible to adequately account for the CAP), and dozens of tinfoil loons all-but accuse him of eating babies.
It might make sense, if it wasn’t for the fact that most of UKIP’s money (£2m+, IIRC, maybe even as much as £5m) comes from Paul Sykes with a similar large amount from some internet betting mogul whose name escapes me right now.
Oh, and Sir (‘Union’, as long as you include the Bahamas in that) Jack Hayward gave them quite a bit as well – but they had to give some of it back because he’s not a UK resident.