Overview
- Electoral Commission filings show Christopher Harborne gave Reform UK £9m in cash on 1 August, the largest single gift by a living donor in UK political records.
- Fueled by the donation, Reform UK reported roughly £10.3–£10.5m in Q3 2025, outpacing the Conservatives at about £7m and Labour at about £2.5m.
- Harborne is a British‑born, Thailand‑based investor with stakes in aviation fuel, defence and cryptocurrency ventures, including reported holdings linked to Tether and Bitfinex.
- Reform UK has opened the door to crypto contributions, though the £9m was recorded as a cash donation, and regulators are reviewing rules for digital‑asset funding.
- Transparency groups renewed demands for donation caps; Farage said Harborne sought nothing in return, and the party denies any quid pro quo tied to Farage’s pro‑crypto stance.