Reform UK Defends £72 Million in Donations as Labour Pushes £100,000 Expat Cap
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 13
Reform UK Defends £72 Million in Donations as Labour Pushes £100,000 Expat Cap
2 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 13
Summary
Robert Jenrick said Reform UK expects to keep £72 million donated by crypto billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, calling both £36 million gifts lawful under current and proposed rules.
The defence comes as the government advances changes to party-funding law that would cap donations from British expats at £100,000, backdated to 25 March, and also limit returnees' giving in their first year back.
Jenrick said Delo has already returned to the UK partly to comply with the planned rules and insisted the donors were "not buying anything" but backing Reform's agenda.
Angela Rayner declined to say whether the new rules would catch the two donations, saying ministers are following a 25 March review and have asked the Electoral Commission what further safeguards are needed.
The bill has cleared MPs but still faces House of Lords scrutiny, leaving the fate of the record-tying donations politically contested.