Reform UK has sparked debate about monied influence on party politics after two record £36 million donations from crypto billionaires - the largest in British political history.
The £72 million combined from billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne equates to about three quarters of the £94.5 million total in cash spent by all parties at the last general election.
Donations 'entirely in line with the law'
Reform UK's economic spokesperson Robert Jenrick said on Sunday the donations were "entirely in line with the law as it it, and as far as we know, the law as it is going to be in the future."
The billionaire donations sparked calls for restrictions on large donations to political parties from British citizens who have lived abroad as well as a £100,000 cap on individual gifts. Both Mr Delo and Mr Harborne are British citizens who have lived overseas.
Government plans to reform donation rules
Housing secretary Angela Rayner previously told ITV News the government would work on a bill to change the rules on political donations. She claimed the Representation of the People Bill would reform how donations are made to political parties in the UK.
She added it was about "making sure there isn't that foreign interference and that the democracy is about the people of this country and not billionaires thinking they can buy democracy."
Reform deputy leader defends donations
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice argued the donations could allow the party to "get on a level playing field" with other parties and said it was similar to Labour being gifted donations from trade unions. TUC general secretary Paul Nowak rejected having its donations to those done by wealthy individuals.
Speaking at the TUC's annual congress in Brighton, Mr Nowak said: "Let no-one tell you there is any similarity between care workers chipping in a few quid a year through their union and a party bought and paid for by billionaires."
Donations could be returned
But Reform UK could also be forced to return the massive sums of money from the crypto billionaires if it emerges they only returned to the UK in the past year, ex-civil servant Philip Rycroft said. Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, he said: "My understanding is that they will have to be living in the UK for at least a full calendar year.
"Once they’ve met that requirement, then they become essentially a domestic donor – and as you say, there is no limit on the donations that can be made by a domestic donor. People have to meet the rules as they are."
Previously, the two largest single donations from an individual were a £10 million donation to the Conservatives from Lord John Sainsbury in 2022 and a £9 million gift from Christopher Harborne to Reform UK in 2025.
