Reform declines to say whether £72m donors returned to UK in time to meet 12-month limit
Summary
Reform UK received a total of £72 million in donations from two crypto billionaires, Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne. Questions have arisen about whether these donors met new UK rules requiring donors to have lived in the UK for at least one year to avoid donation limits, with Reform UK’s deputy leader saying he does not know their exact residency timelines.Key Facts
- Reform UK received two large donations of £36 million each from Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne.
- UK law is being updated to limit donations from Britons living abroad to £100,000 if they have not lived in the UK for 12 months.
- The new rule will apply retrospectively once it becomes law in March 2026.
- Ben Delo was previously living in Hong Kong but has returned to the UK “many, many months ago.”
- Christopher Harborne is registered to vote in the UK but lives mainly in Thailand.
- Reform UK states it has complied with all current and proposed donation laws.
- The rule changes come after concerns about overseas influence and money tracing in UK politics.
- The legislation does not currently include an overall cap on individual donations.
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