Foreign donations raise concerns for Reform UK
An astonishing 80 per cent of donations to Reform UK in the past 12 months have come from donors or companies recently based overseas, reports BritPanorama.
Data from the Electoral Commission shows that the amount received from foreign donors in the last two years overshadowed that of other political parties, generating increasing concerns about overseas influence in British politics. In contrast, the Labour Party and the Conservatives received only 0.15 per cent and 3.57 per cent of their donations from overseas sources during the same timeframe.
No illegal activity has been suggested, but Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson expressed that Reform’s heavy reliance on international backers raises significant questions regarding the party’s financial integrity. This scrutiny follows a record-breaking £36 million donation made last month by cryptocurrency billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne.
Delo, who previously lived in Hong Kong but moved back to the UK this year, and Harborne, who was based in Thailand, contributed £8 million and £15 million respectively to Reform UK. Notably, these donations occurred outside the reporting period covered in the analysis.
Additionally, donations from firms directed by overseas executives contributed to the significant portion of Reform UK’s foreign funding. Specific donations involved significant sums from individuals linked to financial enterprises operating abroad, further complicating the party’s financial narrative.
Phillipson remarked to The Independent that “the public deserves to know exactly who is bankrolling Nigel Farage’s party, what interests these donors are seeking to advance, and whether those interests align with the priorities of the British people.”
While Reform UK pushes its policies, the Labour government is initiating moves to strengthen political finance regulations to better shield British democracy from foreign influence. Current government proposals include a £100,000 cap on donations from British citizens residing abroad, also applying for the first 12 months after returning to the UK.
These proposed measures could raise questions about the legality of the £72 million total donation received from Delo and Harborne, particularly since both individuals have reportedly returned to Britain. Government sources indicate that an enhanced requirement will mandate donors to prove an ongoing UK presence, details of which will soon be clarified.
Last month, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson affirmed that the intention behind the new regulations is not specifically aimed at restricting Reform UK’s ability to utilize these funds but rather ensuring significant contributors have an investment in British society.
Reform was also embroiled in controversy amid allegations of arranging illegal donations, a scandal leading to the resignation of senior party figures. A sting operation by Channel 4 and investigative group Verbatim revealed discussions among Reform executives about disguising foreign contributions.
Despite these revelations, Nigel Farage maintains that he and his associates “had done nothing illegal” in relation to these financial transactions. Concurrently, a self-conducted inquiry within the party suggested that they did not breach electoral laws in the discussions regarding foreign donations.
Reform UK has been invited to respond to these developments.
