What will Ukip do with the £1.3 million donated by Express chief Richard Desmond? The party cannot plough the money directly into its fight in South Thanet because strict spending limits apply on fights in seats during the short campaign. But it can spend it in other ways to promote the party, and of course to promote Nigel Farage.
The plan, sources tell me, is to buy more billboard posters and other national advertising slots, as well as being up Ukip’s social media presence. The Tories have been spending hundreds of thousands of pounds each month on this, so Ukip will never match them – but the party benefits not from money online but a strong grassroots presence of supporters who spread Ukip’s message.
What will be interesting is how aggressive the messages are that Ukip tries to communicate through these adverts and social media posts.
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