Reform UK has secured two £36 million donations from crypto investors Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo, marking the largest political contributions in UK history.
Key facts
- •Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo each donated £36 million to Reform UK within a 48-hour period.
- •The donations are the largest ever recorded for a political party in the United Kingdom.
- •Reform UK is currently under investigation by the Metropolitan Police over alleged foreign funding law violations.
- •The party is preparing for a general election that is officially due by 2029, though speculation exists regarding a potential early election.
- •Nigel Farage previously accepted a separate £5 million gift from Harborne in 2024, which he stated was for personal use.
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party has received a total of £72 million in donations from cryptocurrency billionaires Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo. The two separate £36 million contributions were made within 48 hours of each other, providing the party with significant funding as it prepares for the next general election. Reform UK confirmed the donations on Saturday, which follow previous scrutiny regarding the party's funding practices.
By the numbers
Record-Breaking Financial Support
The combined £72 million in funding exceeds the total spending of the Labour and Conservative parties during the previous election cycle. According to Electoral Commission data, each individual £36 million donation surpasses the previous record for a political gift in the UK, which was a £10 million donation to the Conservative Party from the late John Sainsbury. Both Harborne and Delo stated their contributions were intended to provide a level playing field for the party.
Political and Legal Context
Reform UK is currently facing an investigation by the Metropolitan Police regarding allegations of potential breaches of foreign funding laws. The party has also faced questions regarding a separate £5 million gift accepted by Nigel Farage in 2024, which he described as a personal donation. While Reform UK led opinion polls starting in April 2025, the party has recently seen a slight decline in support amid the ongoing funding allegations.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by South China Morning Post, Politico Europe.
