the party was “merely trying to get on a level playing field"
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has defended two £36 million donations to the party, saying the contributions are legal under current UK rules.
The donations, from cryptocurrency entrepreneurs Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo, were announced over the weekend.
Together, they amounted to £72 million and represented a significant increase in Reform UK’s financial backing.
The contributions have prompted renewed debate over whether wealthy individuals should be allowed to give such large sums to political parties.
The government is seeking changes to political donation rules, including a proposed £100,000 cap for certain donations from British citizens living overseas.
The changes could also be backdated to March 25, creating questions over whether donations made since then could be affected.
Nigel Farage has challenged the possibility of the new rules affecting money already donated to Reform UK.
He argued that donations made legally under existing rules could not later be declared illegal.
Farage said: “You cannot confiscate money that has been given legally within the law as it stands.”
The Reform leader has maintained that the donations are legal under the rules currently in place.
The proposed legislation has raised questions about whether the £72 million could ultimately be affected if new restrictions are applied retrospectively.
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice has defended the donations, arguing that the party was “merely trying to get on a level playing field” with its political rivals.
The donations have also attracted criticism from trade union leaders and political opponents.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak described the donations as a “crisis for our democracy”.
The government has argued that changes are needed to prevent foreign influence and strengthen safeguards around political donations.
Proposed reforms would introduce tighter restrictions on donations from people living overseas, alongside greater scrutiny of political funding.
Reform UK has said both donors expect nothing in return for their financial support.
The party has also said neither Harborne nor Delo would receive a peerage, knighthood or government contract if Reform enters government.
The donations come as Reform UK continues to expand its political presence and build support ahead of the next general election.
The £72 million in new funding has consequently placed the party’s finances at the centre of another political debate.
With the government considering tighter rules, the dispute could become an important test of how Britain’s political donation laws apply to large contributions already made.
