Reform UK has recently garnered over £9 million in donations within the initial quarter of the year, with an additional £3 million contribution coming from a businessman based in Thailand. According to data released by the Electoral Commission, Nigel Farage’s party is significantly surpassing its political competitors in fundraising through private donations.
One of the notable contributions was a £3 million cash injection from crypto magnate Christopher Harborne to Reform UK in January, just before the government imposed a limit on overseas donations at £100,000 in March. This marked Harborne’s total donations to Reform UK since 2020 at £15.4 million. The recent figures follow a controversy surrounding a separate £5 million “gift” Farage received from Harborne in 2024, prompting an investigation by Parliament’s ethics watchdog due to Farage’s failure to disclose it. Initially labeled as a personal security gift, Farage later implied it was a gesture of appreciation for his support of Brexit.
In addition to Harborne’s contribution, Reform UK also secured £4 million from cryptocurrency entrepreneur Ben Delo, who is in the process of relocating to the UK from Hong Kong. Delo, a British billionaire with a history of legal issues in the US related to anti-money laundering measures in his cryptocurrency enterprise, expressed admiration for Reform UK’s dedication to addressing Britain’s challenges.
The donation figures reveal a substantial gap between Reform UK and other political parties in fundraising. Labour raised £4 million, the Conservatives received £4.2 million, the Green Party obtained £263,884, and the Liberal Democrats were granted £3,019,235 during the same period.
A previous report disclosed that out of the £18.6 million donated to Reform UK in the previous year, approximately £15 million originated from individuals with offshore connections, constituting nearly 80% of the party’s total funds.
Responding to the donation revelations, a spokesperson for the Labour Party emphasized the importance of transparency in political funding and urged Farage to clarify the usage of undisclosed donations. The spokesperson highlighted Labour’s commitment to reforming political finance laws to prevent foreign influence and ensure accountability in party funding.
Jackie Killeen, the director of regulation at the Electoral Commission, emphasized the significance of transparency in political finance, noting the public interest in understanding the sources of party funding and welcoming potential reforms to enhance donation controls.
Susan Hawley, Executive Director of Spotlight on Corruption, expressed concerns about the influence of wealthy donors on political parties, calling for increased transparency and accountability within the political system to uphold democracy and public trust.
The Representation of the People Bill was highlighted as an opportunity to reinforce transparency, address loopholes, and promote a fair political system accessible to all citizens.