Reform UK has received a £36million donation from a crypto investor at the centre of a parliamentary investigation into Nigel Farage.
Christopher Harborne, the party’s biggest donor, matched the donation given yesterday by fellow cryptocurrency billionaire Ben Delo
The Reform UK leader still faces a parliamentary investigation into whether he should have declared a £5million gift from Mr Harborne given shortly before he was first elected to the Commons in 2024.
Mr Farage’s party denies any wrongdoing.
Mr Harborne told The Telegraph: “What do I expect in return for my donations: nothing personally. No peerage, no policy change, just a Party that is ready for government.
“I have already accumulated enough wealth for the rest of my life. I am now committed to putting that to work for Britain and humanity as a whole.”
Mr Farage added: “I am honoured and humbled that Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne have shown such confidence in Reform.
“Both men know that we are the only party that can turn the country around and win the next General Election – thanks to their generosity, we are now able to fight that election on a level playing field.”
Mr Farage is still embroiled in a row over donations
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REUTERS
MPs last week backed measures including a cap on overseas donations at £100,000 and a suspension of funding through cryptocurrency, but the draft legislation still needs to be passed by the House of Lords to become law.
Ministers have argued the changes will prevent foreign money influencing elections, but Reform has said it is a bid to choke its funding.
The party has faced ongoing questions about its finances which overshadowed its annual conference last week following an undercover investigation broadcast on Channel 4 News.
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police are investigating after the report showed senior Reform figures appearing to discuss how to disguise donations from foreign sources.
Reform UK denies any wrongdoing and has said it will co-operate fully with the probe.
Ex-Tory donor Christopher Harborne
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CHRISTOPHER HARBORNEA Labour spokesman said: “Nigel Farage is still up to his neck in scandal over his secret £5million ‘gift’ from his other crypto-billionaire backer and the criminal investigation into potentially illegal donations.
“The questions he faces aren’t going away, in fact they’re piling up. Reform UK can’t buy their way out of questions about sleaze, criminal mates and dodgy finances.
“It’s time Farage and Reform finally came clean with the public, co-operated fully with the police, and proved they’re not just in it for themselves.”
Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokeswoman Lisa Smart said: “Nigel Farage wants to bring Trump’s America to our shores by buying his way into power.
“He’s trying to get into No10 as if it’s a stop on a monopoly board. It can’t go on like this. Andy Burnham needs to introduce a cap on political donations. Our democracy depends on it.”
Members of the Reform Party watch Jeremy Kyle interview Nigel Farage at the Reform UK conference | GETTY
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Harborne said the donation was “a philanthropic gift to our country” intended to help Reform prepare for government.
He said: “Whilst I have been making donations to Reform of around £1million a month, Ben Delo told me he was going to make a record donation of £36million.
“My competitive spirit inspired me to match it, so that is what I’ve done. And I hope others may join us.”