By Denis Sheehan FIH
Steadfast pro-Brexiteer Rocco Forte, who funded Boris Johnson’s run for PM and then hosted a lavish £12,000 victory party to celebrate his win, is now funding another staunch Brexiteer Steve Baker in the next election reports in The Guardian confirm this morning.
Forte distanced himself from the party a little while ago after repeatedly expressing frustration over the government’s handling of Brexit not being pure enough in its execution. He even threatened to leave the UK and set up again in Italy. However, following his last donation in 2019 of £100,000 on the eve of Johnson’s election victory, The Guardian now reports that newly released data from the Electoral Commission shows Forte has now handed another £10,000 to the conservatives and Baker.
As many parts of the hospitality industry are forced to deal with people and skills shortages, and a wider economic landscape bereft of growth, doubtless many will look on in disdain at Forte’s actions. Given also that the government’s own polling through YouGov shows most people in the UK acknowledge the damage done to the UK’s international reputation by Brexit ideology as well as the economic damage to the nation, the donation could prove expensive to the Forte brand.