Reform UK has received a second £36m donation in as many days, with cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne matching a record-breaking gift announced by Ben Delo late on Friday. These two contributions, totaling £72m, exceed the combined funding received by all other UK political parties throughout the previous year.
Writing in the Telegraph, the Thailand-based entrepreneur Harborne stated that his “competitive spirit” drove him to match Delo’s donation, which stands as the largest single gift ever provided to a UK political party since mandatory declaration rules began in 2001. Harborne emphasized that he expects “nothing personally” in return, adding that he has “already accumulated enough wealth for the rest of my life.”
Harborne described Reform as a “start-up party” that lacks the “hundreds of years of patronage” enjoyed by established rivals. He argued that such an organization requires funding beyond membership fees to sustain itself and prepare for government. Delo, who also detailed his donation in a Telegraph op-ed, echoed the sentiment of seeking a “fair fight and a level playing field.”
Reform leader Nigel Farage welcomed the “generosity,” stating it would allow the party to compete on a “level playing field” in the next general election. However, the party currently faces significant scrutiny regarding its financial practices. The Metropolitan Police is investigating after a Channel 4 News broadcast allegedly showed senior aides discussing methods to circumvent electoral laws regarding foreign donations.
The party has denied any wrongdoing. Additionally, police are examining donations from Fiona Cottrell, the mother of Farage associate George Cottrell, and from a company controlled by deputy leader Richard Tice.
Harborne himself has previously provided millions to the party and to Farage personally. Farage is currently under investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner regarding whether he should have declared a £5m cash gift from Harborne prior to the 2024 election. Farage maintains the gift was “purely private” and unrelated to his political duties, meaning he was under no obligation to register it.
While there are currently no limits on the amount UK-based donors can contribute to political parties, the landscape is shifting. The Labour government has implemented a £100,000 cap on donations from British citizens living overseas and intends to apply similar restrictions to those who have recently returned to the UK. The report also notes that the party is also facing scrutiny over its finances after a broadcast by Channel 4 News last week showed two senior Reform aides apparently suggesting a way around electoral law to secure foreign party donations. The report also notes that harborne and Delo’s donations mark the largest sums received by a UK political party since they had to begin declaring them in 2001. The report also notes that he said: “My conclusion from Reform’s recent troubles is that they should spend less time trying to raise funds to compete on equal terms and more time preparing for government, addressing the recent scrutiny of Reform’s finances.
