Reform UK has received over £9 million in donations during the initial quarter of this year, with an additional £3 million contribution from a businessman based in Thailand. Data from the Electoral Commission indicates that Nigel Farage’s party is surpassing its political opponents in fundraising through private donations.
The major donation came from crypto magnate Christopher Harborne, who provided £3 million to Reform UK in January. This contribution was made just before the government limited overseas donations to £100,000 in March. Harborne has contributed a total of £15.4 million to Reform UK since 2020.
Reform UK’s financial support notably exceeds that of Labour and the Conservatives, with Keir Starmer’s party raising £4 million and the Conservatives securing donations of £4.2 million in the same period. In comparison, the Green Party received only £263,884 in donations, while the Liberal Democrats were granted £3,019,235.
The previous year, Reform received £18.6 million in donations, of which approximately £15 million originated from individuals with offshore connections, constituting nearly 80% of the total contributions to the party.
In response, a spokesperson from the Labour Party emphasized the need for transparency in political donations and urged Farage to disclose details about the undisclosed £5 million gift from Harborne. The Labour Party is actively working on strengthening political finance laws to eliminate foreign influence in politics and enhance public trust in funding sources for political parties.
The latest donation figures, released by the Electoral Commission’s Director of Regulation, Jackie Killeen, revealed that political parties received a total of £24.7 million in donations in the first quarter of 2026. Killeen highlighted the importance of transparency in the UK political finance system and emphasized the ongoing need for legislative improvements to reinforce donation controls and maintain voter confidence.
Susan Hawley, Executive Director of Spotlight on Corruption, raised concerns about the significant influx of money into British politics, questioning the transparency and potential influence of wealthy donors on political parties. Hawley emphasized the necessity of the Representation of the People Bill to enhance transparency, close loopholes, and ensure a fair political system that benefits all citizens.
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