Reform UK has recently amassed over £9 million in donations during the initial quarter of this year, with a notable contribution of £3 million coming from a businessman based in Thailand. The Electoral Commission’s data reveals that Nigel Farage’s party is significantly outpacing other political competitors in fundraising through private donations.
A substantial portion of these donations, particularly £3 million, was provided by crypto mogul Christopher Harborne to Reform UK in January, just before the government limited overseas donations to £100,000 in March. Harborne’s total contributions to Reform UK since 2020 amount to £15.4 million. Concerns arose previously regarding a separate £5 million “gift” Farage received from Harborne in 2024, leading to an investigation by Parliament’s ethics watchdog due to the lack of declaration. Initially labeled as a personal security gift, Farage later implied it was a reward for his Brexit advocacy.
Further boosting Reform UK’s financial backing, the party 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 previously convicted in the US for insufficient anti-money-laundering controls in his cryptocurrency business, commended Reform UK as a group earnestly seeking solutions for Britain. Notably, Delo received a pardon from Donald Trump last year.
Reform UK’s donation figures significantly eclipse those of Labour and the Conservatives, with Labour raising £4 million and the Conservatives receiving £4.2 million during the same period. In contrast, the Green Party acquired only £263,884 in donations, while the Liberal Democrats were granted £3,019,235.
A previous report revealed that out of the £18.6 million donated to Reform UK in the prior year, approximately £15 million had connections to offshore sources, constituting nearly 80% of the party’s total donations.
In response to the donation revelations, a Labour Party spokesperson emphasized the importance of transparency in political financing, urging Farage to disclose details about the undisclosed £5 million gift and any other concealed contributions. The spokesperson highlighted Labour’s commitment to enhancing political donation regulations to safeguard democracy from foreign influences and ensure public trust in funding sources.
Discussing the latest donation statistics, Jackie Killeen, the Electoral Commission’s regulation director, emphasized the transparency of the UK’s political finance system, acknowledging the significance of providing voters with information on party funding sources. Killeen also noted the necessity for legislative enhancements to fortify donation controls and enhance public confidence in the political finance system.
Susan Hawley, Executive Director of Spotlight on Corruption, expressed concerns about the substantial financial influence in British politics, emphasizing the need to scrutinize the origins of political funding. Hawley called for increased transparency and regulatory adjustments through the Representation of the People Bill to promote a fair and equitable political system accessible to all citizens.