Reform UK has received a combined £72 million ($97 million) in donations from two billionaires, Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, over two days. Delo donated £36 million, and Harborne matched this with another £36 million. These contributions are notable for their scale, potentially representing the largest single donation and a significant matching donation to a British political party.
The donations occur while Reform UK is under criminal investigation regarding its funding. The Metropolitan Police opened an inquiry on Tuesday into allegations from Channel 4 footage concerning methods to circumvent the ban on foreign political donations. This inquiry is being integrated into an existing investigation into payments received by the party before the last general election.
Britain banned crypto political donations in March. Both Delo and Harborne stated that their recent donations, as well as previous ones, were not made using cryptocurrency. The timing of these large donations also coincides with the government considering tighter regulations on political funding. While there is no limit on donations from UK-based individuals, Labour has proposed capping gifts from Britons living overseas and plans similar restrictions for recent returnees. Donors giving more than £100,000 annually must have been on the electoral register for at least 12 months.
Ben Delo, co-founder of BitMEX, announced his £36 million donation in The Telegraph on Friday. This amount is reportedly more than four times the £8 million he had already contributed to Reform UK this year. Reports suggest Delo is providing the funds upfront, equivalent to £1 million per month until the latest possible election date in 2029, potentially to preempt future government caps on large donations. Delo, who previously pleaded guilty to anti-money laundering failures at BitMEX, has stated his intention to return from Hong Kong. He was pardoned by U.S. President Donald Trump in 2025.
Christopher Harborne, an investor in Tether, matched Delo’s donation on Saturday. Harborne, who has previously donated £15 million to Reform UK since the last election, cited a “competitive spirit” as his motivation, adding that he expected “nothing, personally.” The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is reviewing whether Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, should have declared a £5 million personal gift from Harborne.
A spokesperson for Reform UK stated that the funds would be used to hire “the brightest and best minds to work on policy” and to recruit 400 campaign managers, one for each target seat, indicating the party is “now on election footing.”
Reform UK has denied any wrongdoing and pledged full cooperation with the ongoing investigations. The party faces scrutiny not only over its funding but also concerning past declarations, such as the £5 million gift to Farage. The Metropolitan Police’s inquiry focuses on allegations of circumventing foreign donation bans, separate from the recent large contributions from Delo and Harborne.
This situation highlights the complex interplay between significant political funding, evolving regulatory frameworks, and ongoing investigations into party finances. While the donations represent a substantial financial boost for Reform UK, their context within the current scrutiny and potential future regulatory changes adds layers of uncertainty to their ultimate impact. The donations are significant given the government is considering tighter rules on donations and the party is under criminal investigation.
Why This Matters
The materials describe a narrow update: Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne donated a combined £72 million ($97 million) to Reform UK over two days. Whether Nigel Farage declared a £5 million personal gift from Harborne.
Broader Context
Source materials place the factual news in this context: Two crypto billionaires have given Nigel Farage’s Reform UK £72 million ($97 million) in two days, more than every British party raised last year combined.
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