Reform UK has raised £1 million from David Grainger, a former Conservative donor and investor in health, biotech, and longevity, according to new donation figures. The party, led by Nigel Farage, brought in a total of £9 million in the first three months of the year, largely from cryptocurrency billionaires.
The figures, published by the Electoral Commission, show that Reform's fundraising far outstripped Labour and the Conservatives, each of which raised about £4 million from private donations in the same period. Reform's donations included £3 million from Christopher Harborne, a British-Thai dual citizen and cryptocurrency and aviation investor, and £4 million from Ben Delo, a cryptocurrency entrepreneur relocating to the UK from Hong Kong.
Between them, Harborne and Delo accounted for a third of all private money flowing into politics in the first quarter. Harborne's total donations to Reform now stand at £15 million over the past year, while Delo is a first-time donor to the party. Farage is under pressure over a separate £5 million personal gift from Harborne, now under investigation by the standards commissioner.
Other new Reform donors include Navroz Udwadia, co-founder of investment company New Wave Global, and a company owned by Reform's leader on South Tyneside council, Paul Mackings, which donated £111,000. Maria Rost, wife of US crypto and insurance investor John Rost, gave £130,000, while Nicolas Homsy, with business links to the Middle East, donated £50,000. RMB Associates, run by nightclub owner Robin Birley, gave the same amount.
The Conservatives received a £1.1 million boost from donor Mary V Doran, while Labour's biggest contributors were David Sainsbury, Gary Lubner, and major trade unions. Susan Hawley of Spotlight on Corruption said the figures exposed 'the scale of big money flowing into British politics' and raised 'serious questions about who is funding our political parties'.
Keir Starmer has been pressed to introduce a cap on donations but reiterated plans to limit overseas donations and impose a moratorium on cryptocurrency donations. The Electoral Commission's Jackie Killeen said the publication of donation figures is key to transparency, but acknowledged the need for reforms to strengthen the political finance system.
