Nando's rejects Conservative party member discount card idea

Nando's has dismissed reports the Conservatives could offer party members a discount at the popular chain’s restaurants.

The Tory party is sketching out plans to try and compete with Labour’s growing membership figures and Tory chiefs reportedly floated the idea of a Nando’s membership card.

But the company, which specialises in piri-piri marinated chicken, insisted it was totally non-partisan and has no political discount card.

“Nando’s has no political affiliations as a brand and no political discount card exists,” a spokesperson told The Independent.

“We have a Nando’s loyalty card and standard gift cards that anyone can use, and we offer a 20 per cent discount to police, fire services, ambulance service and NHS staff.”

This comes after a “senior party source” told The Times the possibility of a discount card for money off at restaurants and shops was a “very real possibility”.

The report referred explicitly to the casual dining chain, which originated in South Africa and has around 1,000 restaurants across 30 countries.

"These are early discussions: we don't know how many businesses would want to take part, but we're keen to give members more in return for their membership," the source told the newspaper.

According to the latest party figures, the Conservative Party has 124,000 members, substantially behind Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party, which has more than 550,000 members. The gulf in numbers has raised concern among Conservatives they could struggle in the next general election.

Reports of plans to introduce discounts at Nando’s – recently found to be the top food place for millennials by The Drum - to attract new members echoes recent Tory efforts to attract younger voters after their disappointing performance in the snap election last summer.

Nando’s has enjoyed a number of high profile endorsements - the Duke of Cambridge said he was a fan of the chicken chain just last month and David Cameron was known to be partial to the Mozambican-Portuguese-style chicken while he was prime minister.

Acclaimed singer Adele, Canadian rapper Drake, and model Bella Hadid have also declared their penchant for Nando’s.