Follow the money: Conservative donors know that Britain is crumbling

Editorial: Funds for the Tory party from wealthy individuals are drying up, pointing to a change of government

Donors do not seem prepared to bet on the Conservatives turning things around in time for the election next year (Getty/PA)

Leading indicators of a change of government include defections, companies buying space at the opposition party’s annual conference, and the drying up of donations to the governing party.

As Rishi Sunak surveys the dashboard, he should see the warning signs flashing. Zac Goldsmith, the green Conservative peer, was threatening to defect to Labour the other day. Admittedly, he is a friend of Boris Johnson’s so his motives may be mixed, and no MP has crossed the floor of the House of Commons since Christian Wakeford in January last year.

But Labour is gleeful about the number of businesses signing up for its party conference in Liverpool next month, and about the number of business leaders queuing up for audiences with Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves.