GEORGE Galloway’s hopes of having candidates from his party elected to Holyrood seem in doubt as crowdfunders set up to raise money stagnate across Scotland.
Galloway’s All for Unity (A4U) has run eight separate crowdfunders, one for each region of Scotland. They also have a ninth primarily targeted at getting Galloway elected.
All of the crowdfunders have set out to raise £5000 for use in the Holyrood campaign, but some are stuck on as little as £50, with supporters numbering in the single figures.
The crowdfunder for Glasgow, Scotland's biggest city, has received just four donations in almost 50 days.
READ MORE: SNP on course for majority with independence the 'top issue' for voters, poll says
Though each crowdfunding link was posted on A4U’s official website on March 29, they have different running times. Two started before that date, while the rest are due to finish on April 26.
Each crowdfunder’s description outlines what the party may use donations for.
They say: “We need you to pledge whatever you can afford: £5 could buy 50 A4U posters to go up in people’s windows; £50 could buy 2000 leaflets; £100 could pay for 3000 letters telling voters how to best use their votes to elect pro-Union MSPs and defeat the SNP; £500 could pay the whole deposit of the candidates.”
The state of the crowdfunders as of April 7 is as follows:
Central Scotland - £270 raised from seven supporters.
Glasgow - £250 from four supporters after 48 days of running.
South Scotland - £50 raised from two supporters.
Highlands and Islands - £100 raised from six supporters.
North East Scotland - £3222 from 35 supporters after 48 days of running.
Mid Scotland and Fife - £1425 raised from 30 supporters.
Lothian - £5765 raised from 18 supporters. This, currently A4U’s most successful crowdfunder, has benefitted from large donations from several donors, including one of £2000, another of £1250, and several of £500.
West Scotland - £2585 from 76 supporters.
George Galloway and All for Unity - £2263 from 60 supporters. This is a separate fund with the stated aim of trying “to get George into Holyrood”.
A4U said that the South Scotland figures were wrong as the crowdfunder for that region had been "superceded" by the crowdfunder in Galloway's name.
Both are due to finish on April 26. The Galloway fundraiser first received a donation on March 29, while the South Scotland's first donation was on April 2.
The Conservative Party is reportedly concerned that Galloway’s A4U may end up costing them seats in the May election.
One insider told the Telegraph their party is most vulnerable to the loss of list seats in Central and South Scotland.
However, Galloway’s party seems to have raised just £320 from nine supporters across those two regions.
A Panelbase poll put A4U on 4% support on the list and predicted it would return a single MSP.
READ MORE: Scottish Tories fear losing up to six seats to Galloway's All for Unity party
However, an Ipsos Mori poll today did not register high enough support for the Unionist party for it to win a seat in Holyrood.
That poll also registered 53% support for the SNP in the constituency vote, predicting the party would return 70 MSPs on May 6.
Launching A4U's manifesto earlier today, Galloway said indyref2 should only take place if a majority of Scots vote for pro-independence parties.
If a majority of Scots then vote Yes in a referendum, A4U say the country should be divided into regions, with each region given the choice of whether to join an independent Scotland or remain in the UK.
In its manifesto, A4U says the Scottish Government should be renamed the “Scottish Executive”, and powers should be devolved to the regions of Scotland, rather than central government.
Galloway said: "All For Unity will open the books of the Scottish Parliament, tackle the scourge of separatism and #SaveOurScotland.
“I’m more Labour than Anas Sarwar, more pro-Union than Douglas Ross, I’m the one the separatists fear.
“On May 6, vote tactically, vote smart, vote A4U and get the SNP out.”
All figures were correct at time of publication.
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