The Reform UK funding surge

Reform UK received two record-breaking £36 million donations within 48 hours in mid-September 2026: crypto entrepreneur Ben Delo gave first, and Thailand-based crypto investor Christopher Harborne matched it the next day, saying his "competitive spirit" inspired him and that he expected "nothing personally" in return. The combined £72m exceeds what all UK political parties raised in donations in the whole of 2025 (around £69m) and dwarfs the previous record UK party donation. Party leader Nigel Farage said the money would let Reform "fight and win the next election on a level playing field" and hire up to 400 campaign managers across target seats; deputy leader Richard Tice said Delo's donation was structured as an upfront lump sum specifically so Labour couldn't retroactively legislate against it.

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As it ran

14 September 2026

• What you need to know about the huge donations to Reform UK BBC News

13 September 2026

• Will record donations to Reform go down as a moment of UK political change? BBC News

12 September 2026

• Reform UK receives second £36m donation in two days as crypto investor matches record BBC News
• Reform receives second £36m donation in two days as crypto investor matches record BBC News
• Farage’s Reform UK gets second record £36 million donation in 48 hours South China Morning Post
• Second crypto billionaire donates record $49m to far-right Reform UK Al Jazeera