Reform UK has garnered over £9 million in donations during the initial quarter of the year, with an additional £3 million contribution from a businessman based in Thailand. Data from the Electoral Commission indicates that Nigel Farage’s party is acquiring significantly more funding through private donations compared to their political competitors.
One of the notable contributions came from crypto entrepreneur Christopher Harborne, who provided £3 million to Reform UK in January. This donation occurred just before the government limited overseas donations to £100,000 in March. Since 2020, Mr. Harborne has donated a total of £15.4 million to Reform UK. Concerns arose following a £5 million “gift” from Mr. Harborne to Mr. Farage in 2024, prompting an investigation by Parliament’s ethics watchdog due to the lack of declaration. Initially labeled as a personal security gift, Mr. Farage later suggested it was a reward for his Brexit advocacy.
Additionally, Reform UK received £4 million from cryptocurrency magnate Ben Delo, who is relocating from Hong Kong to the UK. Mr. Delo, a British billionaire previously convicted in the US for insufficient anti-money-laundering controls in his crypto business, praised Reform UK as a group earnestly working to address Britain’s challenges. He was pardoned by Donald Trump last year and clarified that the regulatory issue did not constitute a crime in the UK.
Reform’s fundraising significantly surpassed that of Labour and the Conservatives, with Keir Starmer’s party collecting £4 million and the Tories receiving £4.2 million in the same period. In contrast, the Green Party obtained only £263,884 in donations, while the Liberal Democrats were granted £3,019,235.
Previously disclosed data revealed that out of the £18.6 million donated to Reform in the prior year, nearly 80% originated from individuals with offshore connections, emphasizing the party’s financial sources.
Responding to the donation figures, a spokesperson for the Labour Party emphasized the importance of transparency in political financing. They urged Farage to disclose details regarding the undisclosed £5 million gift and reiterated Labour’s commitment to enhancing donation regulations to safeguard democracy and public trust.
Jackie Killeen, the Electoral Commission’s regulation director, underscored the need for robust political finance reforms to uphold transparency and confidence in the system. Susan Hawley, Executive Director of Spotlight on Corruption, emphasized the necessity of addressing the substantial financial influences in British politics to ensure a fair and transparent democratic process.
The Representation of the People Bill was highlighted as a crucial opportunity to reinforce transparency, close loopholes, and guarantee that political financing serves the public interest.
