Major boost for Reform UK as Ben Delo donates £36m
Nigel Farage’s party has received a €36 million donation from British cryptocurrency entrepreneur Ben Delo, marking a significant boost for its election campaign, reports BritPanorama.
This contribution is the largest donation made to a political party by a considerable margin, coming amid a police investigation into allegations that Reform breached party donation rules concerning illegal foreign funding.
Delo’s involvement is particularly notable given his previous status as Reform UK’s second-largest donor. He plans to help the party prepare for government, emphasizing the need for a “fair fight.” This new funding almost equals the total of £38 million the party has received since its inception in 2021, while the Conservative Party has amassed £150 million and Labour £128 million during the same period.
In response to the donation, Farage expressed gratitude, stating, “I am honoured and humbled that Ben Delo has shown such confidence in Reform.” He further claimed that Delo recognizes Reform as the only party capable of reversing the country’s decline.
Delo, the founder of cryptocurrency trading platform BitMex, has made four donations to Reform this year alone, amounting to £8 million. He was convicted in the U.S. in 2022 for deficiencies in an anti-money laundering program but was later pardoned by President Donald Trump. Until now, he was the second-largest donor, behind billionaire Christopher Harborne, who has donated £15 million to the party in the past year.
In a recent piece for The Telegraph, Delo emphasized his desire for a level playing field in British politics. “Unlike the people who express mock concern for the health of ‘our democracy’ while doing everything they can to keep it as a cartel, I want a fair fight,” he noted. He announced a commitment to contribute £1 million monthly to Reform UK, front-loading his donations into a single payment of £36 million to mitigate any potential interference from Labour regarding funding.
This donation comes amid increasing scrutiny of both the party and Farage, intensified by an undercover investigation revealing discussions among senior Reform figures about concealing donations from foreign sources. The Metropolitan Police have also initiated a criminal investigation into the allegations regarding breaches of donation regulations.
Deputy leader Richard Tice acknowledged the significance of the donation, thanking Delo for enabling them to recruit top talent and build a professional campaign. He expressed determination to secure victory for Reform UK to “save Britain and make Britain amazing again.”
Former party candidate Matt Goodwin praised Delo, calling him a “patriot, hero, and legend.” Delo remarked that supporting Reform requires a strong disposition, citing the treatment of Harborne following his donations. He stated, “I believe it is the duty of people with broad shoulders and deep pockets to step up and help Reform to win and govern, rather than allow the British people to be trapped in the political monoculture that is driving this country off a cliff.”
