Reform UK has insisted that the £72 million it received from two cryptocurrency billionaires remains fully compliant with legal standards. Party economic spokesman Robert Jenrick stated he does not anticipate the need to return any funds contributed by Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, both of whom have British citizenship but have spent significant time living abroad.
The current political climate remains tense as the government works to reform regulations regarding political donations from British expatriates. The proposed legislative changes include a £100,000 cap on such contributions, with provisions to backdate the rule to 25 March. Additionally, the government has suggested implementing a minimum residency requirement, where the spending limit would continue to apply to individuals for the remainder of the calendar year they return to the UK, as well as the following year.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner confirmed that these rule changes are intended to apply retrospectively. She warned that any donor failing to meet the new criteria would be required to “return that money,” though she declined to comment specifically on the status of Delo and Harborne, citing a lack of clarity regarding their individual circumstances.
Addressing these remarks, Jenrick maintained that the party remains “100% confident” in the legality of the donations. He suggested that if the government alters the law further, it might be an attempt to target Reform UK specifically, yet he emphasized that based on existing laws and expected future regulations, the funds are secure. “These two donations are entirely in line with the law as it is and, as far as we know, the law as it’s going to be in the future,” Jenrick noted.
Reports indicate that both Delo and Harborne have returned to the UK, with Delo reportedly having been back in the country since last year. Jenrick indicated that Delo’s decision to return was motivated in part by a desire to ensure compliance with the evolving regulatory landscape.
Ultimately, the impact of these changes on the party’s current funding may hinge on how the government defines residency. Experts familiar with the proposals suggest that while ministers could adopt existing tax law definitions, the complexity of residency rules creates a high degree of uncertainty regarding how these specific cases might be treated moving forward. The report also notes that the government has proposed a minimum residency period in which the £100,000 cap would still apply for those who move back to the UK, as well as limiting how much British citizens can donate to political parties from overseas.
