Reform UK receives millions from crypto billionaires and foreign donors as donations soar
Reform UK received £9 million from donors in the first quarter of the year, according to the latest data; this was the largest amount given to any political party at the time.
Electoral Commission figures show Nigel Farage’s party received the biggest contribution from Thailand-based crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, who donated £3 million between January and March 2026.
Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency magnate Ben Delo also donated £4 million to Reform in two lump sum payments of £2 million in January and March.
Biotechnology executive and venture capitalist David Grainger contributed approximately £1,150,000 to Reform through a series of donations over the period.
Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative Party received the second largest donation amount in the first quarter, with £6 million.
The largest donation to the Conservatives was £1.1 million from Mary V Doran.
Labor received around £4 million over the same period; Lord David Sainsbury and Gary Lubner were among its biggest donors.
While both gave £550,000 to Labor, the party also received significant funding from affiliated unions such as Unite and Usdaw.
Sir Ed Davey’s Liberal Democrats received around £2.9 million in donations over the same period, while the Green Party received around £300,000.
The latest data on donations to political parties comes after Labor introduced restrictions on the amount foreign-based donors can give to political parties.
Overseas-based donors now face a £100,000 annual limit on the amount they can give to political parties.
The cap, introduced at the end of March, followed a review of the £12 million Mr Harborne donated to Reform through 2025.
Reform leader Mr Farage insisted the billionaire wanted nothing in return for his donations.
Mr Farage also faces questions about the £5 million gift he received from Mr Harborne in the months before announcing he would stand as an MP in the 2024 general election.
He has variously said the gift was to pay for his personal security and that it was a reward for his years of campaigning for Brexit.
Parliament’s standards commissioner is currently investigating whether Mr Farage should register the gift as a benefit.
Mr Delo, the other crypto billionaire whose recent political donations were among Reform, said he would return to the UK from Hong Kong to avoid caps on donations to foreign donors.
