Reform UK receives record £36m donation from crypto billionaire
British crypto billionaire Ben Delo has donated a record-breaking 36 million pounds to Reform UK, marking the largest single political donation in UK history.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Reform UK has secured a record-breaking £36 million donation from a British cryptocurrency billionaire.
- Donor Ben Delo stated he made the move to ensure a fair fight and a level playing field.
- The entire sum is being handed over upfront to preempt potential future government limits on mega-donations.
- The party and its leadership continue to face ongoing police scrutiny regarding political fundraising laws.
Reform UK has broken UK political records after securing a massive £36 million financial contribution from British cryptocurrency billionaire Ben Delo, setting a new benchmark for the largest single donation ever given to a political party in the nation.
Sheffield-born Delo, who has previously contributed £4 million to the party and plans to relocate back to the UK from Hong Kong, wrote in the Daily Telegraph that his motivation stems from a desire for a "fair fight and a level playing field." Although he initially planned to donate £1 million per month leading up to the 2029 general election, he decided to transfer the full amount upfront to safeguard against any future government restrictions on mega-donations.
Party leader Nigel Farage expressed that he was deeply honoured and humbled by the generous gift. While UK-based donors currently face no spending caps on contributions to political parties, the Labour government previously introduced a strict £100,000 limit on donations originating from British citizens residing overseas, igniting sharp criticism from Reform and its core financial backers.
"I wanted a fair fight and a level playing field."
Ben Delo
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
This unprecedented £36 million injection gives Reform UK a formidable financial chest as they gear up for future electoral battles, while also highlighting the strategic maneuvering by mega-donors to outpace tightening political finance regulations in the UK. The timing of this donation intersects with heightened regulatory and police scrutiny over the party's broader funding transparency.
The party's fundraising efforts remain under active investigation by the Metropolitan Police following allegations concerning foreign funding laws and donations linked to figures such as Fiona Cottrell and deputy leader Richard Tice. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage faces separate parliamentary scrutiny over a past £5m gift from Thailand-based cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne, as the government advances legislative measures to curb overseas funding under the Representation of the People Bill.
Source: BBC Politics
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