United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal "The Daily Telegraph" obtained a full copy of all expenses claims. The "Telegraph" began publishing, in instalments from 8 May 2009, certain MPs' expenses. The "Telegraph" justified the publication of the information because it contended that the official information due to be released would have omitted key information about re-designating of second-home nominations. The information in the leaks published by "The Daily Telegraph" originated from the parliamentary fees office, and had been offered to other newspaper organisations for more than £150,000. In September 2009, the assistant editor of the "Telegraph", Andrew Pierce, revealed in an interview that the newspaper had
UK Independence Party who had left the party after its leader, David Cameron, had moved in a socially liberal direction. According to Farage, Cameron was "a socialist" whose priorities were "gay marriage, foreign aid, and wind farms". Cameron was highly critical of UKIP, referring to them as "fruitcakes, loonies, and closet racists". The Conservatives' largest donor, Stuart Wheeler, donated £100,000 to UKIP after criticising Cameron's stance towards the Treaty of Lisbon and the EU. After trust in the mainstream parties was damaged by the UK parliamentary expenses scandal, UKIP received an immediate surge in support. This helped it in the 2009 European Parliament