Key facts
- Reform UK received two donations of £36 million each from cryptocurrency tycoons Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne.
- The total £72 million in donations is the largest sum ever given to a political party in British history.
- Ben Delo was previously convicted in the US for failing to implement adequate anti-money-laundering controls in his cryptocurrency business BitMEX.
- Christopher Harborne previously gifted £5 million to Nigel Farage, which is currently under parliamentary standards investigation.
- The Representation of the People Bill proposes capping gifts to political parties from Britons living abroad or those who have returned to the UK within the past 12 months at £100,000 annually.
- Reform UK has expanded its party infrastructure and staffing capacity.
Reform UK has received two substantial donations totaling £72 million from cryptocurrency businessmen Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, marking the largest single donations in British political history. Delo contributed £36 million, having previously been convicted in the US for failing to implement adequate anti-money-laundering controls at BitMEX, and was pardoned by Donald Trump last year. Harborne also donated £36 million, matching Delo's contribution, and had previously given £5 million to Nigel Farage, a gift currently under parliamentary standards investigation. These donations significantly surpass the total spending of the seven largest parties in the last general election and nearly double the total donations received by all political parties this year. The party is reportedly using the funds to expand its infrastructure, hire staff, and increase its visibility through advertising and data gathering. The legality of these donations is being scrutinized, with the Metropolitan police conducting an inquiry into Reform's finances. Reform UK maintains that the donations are in line with current and future laws. The timing of these donations coincides with the Representation of the People Bill returning to the House of Lords, which aims to introduce stricter rules on political donations, including caps on gifts from Britons living abroad.