Reform UK has raised £9 million in private donations in the first three months of the year, more than double the amounts received by Labour and the Conservatives, according to new figures. The party, led by Nigel Farage, has been largely funded by cryptocurrency billionaires, with two donors accounting for a third of all private money flowing into politics in the first quarter.
Christopher Harborne, a British-Thai dual citizen and cryptocurrency and aviation investor, donated £3 million, while Ben Delo, a cryptocurrency entrepreneur relocating from Hong Kong, gave £4 million. Harborne's total donations to Reform now stand at £15 million over the past year. Farage is also under investigation by the standards commissioner for accepting a £5 million personal gift from Harborne, which he claimed was for security or a reward for campaigning for Brexit.
Other donors include David Grainger, an investor in health and biotech, who gave £1 million, and Navroz Udwadia, co-founder of investment company New Wave Global. A company owned by Reform's leader on South Tyneside council, Paul Mackings, donated £111,000. Maria Rost, wife of US crypto investor John Rost, gave £130,000, and Nicolas Homsy, with business links to the Middle East, donated £50,000. Nightclub owner Robin Birley's company RMB Associates also gave £50,000.
The Conservatives raised £4 million, boosted by £1.1 million from Mary V Doran, while Labour's £4 million came from regular donors David Sainsbury, Gary Lubner, and major trade unions. The total donations of £24.7 million in the first quarter of 2026 reflect a surge in Reform's funding from crypto investors.
Susan Hawley of Spotlight on Corruption said the figures expose 'the scale of big money flowing into British politics' and raise questions about who is funding parties. Keir Starmer has reiterated plans to limit overseas donations and impose a moratorium on cryptocurrency donations. The Electoral Commission's Jackie Killeen noted the system's transparency but called for legal reforms to strengthen donation controls.
Separately, a DeSmog analysis found that GB News has paid over £1 million to Reform MPs, including £700,000 to Farage and £300,000 to Lee Anderson, while the standards committee considers limiting MPs' earnings.
