Electoral Data Shows Most Reform UK Donations Came From Donors Based Overseas

Overview

• An analysis of Electoral Commission records shows about 80% of Reform UK’s donations in the past year came from donors or companies recently based abroad, with roughly £22.44m from abroad and £7.22m from donors based in the UK.
• Undercover footage reported by Channel 4 and Verbatim led to suspensions and the resignation of senior aides and prompted an internal Reform review that found no breach of electoral law.
• The Metropolitan Police has opened a separate investigation into the undercover claims about handling foreign donations.
• Reform received two separate £36m donations from Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne after the period analysed, and ministers have suggested new rules could be backdated, which may affect those gifts.
• Opposition figures have demanded greater transparency and the government says tougher residency tests and a £100,000 cap aim to ensure major donors have an ongoing stake in the UK, a move that could change how big political donations are made and checked.