Reform UK has received a £9 million donation from Christopher Harborne, a prominent cryptocurrency investor, according to new figures from the Electoral Commission. The record-breaking gift, made in cash rather than digital currency, has prompted renewed calls from campaign groups for a cap on political donations.
The donation, which occurred over the summer, is the largest single contribution to a UK political party this year. Harborne, who also has interests in defence and aviation fuel, previously donated over £10 million to Nigel Farage's Brexit Party in 2019. The Electoral Commission data shows Reform UK received more than £10 million in total, surpassing the Conservatives' £7 million and Labour's £2.5 million.
Other notable donations to Reform UK include £50,000 from Claudia Rothermere, wife of Daily Mail owner Jonathan Rothermere, and £490,000 from honorary treasurer Nick Candy. The party also received £100,000 from tech billionaire Bassim Haidar, a former Conservative donor.
Campaign groups such as Spotlight on Corruption and Transparency International have renewed calls for a cap on political donations. Rose Zussman of Transparency International UK said: 'This record-breaking donation shows how dependent our political parties have become on a super-rich few.' Susan Hawley of Spotlight on Corruption added that the donation 'reinforces the public's belief that money talks loudest in the corridors of power.'
Harborne, who describes himself as intensely private, lived in Thailand for about 20 years and is also known as Chakrit Sakunkrit. He has a stake in defence tech firm Qinetiq and aviation-fuel producer AML Global. He was also an early backer of the cryptocurrency Tether, which the National Crime Agency has found to be used to help Russia in its war against Ukraine, though there is no suggestion Harborne is involved in illicit activity.
