Evening Standard
· collected 2026-09-15 · by Press Association Political Staff
The British Government is considering enhancing residency requirements for political donors following significant donations by expatriate billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne totaling £72 million to the new party Reform UK. When asked if these proposed checks were targeted specifically at Reform UK’s large donation, No 10 denied this allegation, asserting instead that the aim was to ensure major contributors have a stake in the UK. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage has criticized the government's potential move to apply new laws retrospectively and warned of retaliatory legislation if Labour blocks the donations.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Reform UK, a newly-formed British political party led by Nigel Farage, received an unprecedented £72 million in donations over two days at the end of June. The donations came from Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo, both wealthy crypto investors who have recently returned to Britain, with each contributing £36 million. This is the largest political donation in British history.
Farage announced that these funds will be used to professionalize Reform UK, hiring campaign managers in target constituencies and acquiring expert policy advisors. The party aims to prepare for a potential early general election by building expertise needed to run a government effectively.
However, this influx of cash has sparked controversy, with critics arguing it undermines democratic processes and calls for stricter donation caps. Labour MPs are pushing for a cap on individual donations at £100,000 annually, while some suggest retrospective rules to invalidate the recent large donations.
Farage insists that these contributions comply with current laws but acknowledges uncertainty about future regulations being debated in Parliament. The controversy highlights ongoing debates over foreign influence and political funding reform in British politics. Reform UK's financial strength could challenge established parties like Labour and Conservatives in upcoming elections, adding a new dimension to political dynamics in Britain.
Written for “Reform UK Donations Controversy” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 16 other(s) covering the same event.
Ministers are considering whether to strengthen proposed laws to force political donors to demonstrate an “ongoing” presence in the country amid reports Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne have already returned to the UK.
asserted
Delo → consider → UK
The Government has already moved to introduce a £100,000 cap on the amount of money that can be given to parties by UK citizens overseas, which would also apply for the first 12 months after any expats return to the country.
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expats → move → country
The changes would be backdated to this March, raising questions about whether Reform can keep the twin £36 million donations from Mr Delo and Mr Harborne, British-born billionaires who have been based abroad.
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who → backdate → Delo
Ministers are now looking at how to further tighten the rules by introducing an “enhanced” residency test requiring donors to demonstrate they have lived in the UK for a certain period, it emerged on Monday.
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it → look → Monday
Asked whether the proposed checks were a bid to prevent Reform UK specifically from using the £72 million it received over the weekend, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said on Tuesday: “No, I completely reject that.”
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I → ask → that
No 10 insisted the plans were to ensure people who contribute vast sums to political parties have a stake in the UK.
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who → insist → UK
“There are multiple precedents under successive administrations, particularly to address the risk of people taking action immediately to avoid the new rules,” the spokesman said.
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spokesman → be → rules
Government sources said details of the potential new enhanced checks would be set out shortly and aligned with broader policy.
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details → say → policy
Nigel Farage has acknowledged Reform UK’s record-breaking windfall may fall foul of Government efforts to clamp down on foreign donors, and hit out against the move to apply the new law retrospectively.
uncertain
windfall → acknowledge → law
Mr Farage told the BBC on Monday he believed the two donations were “compliant” with the law as it stands, but suggested they may not be acceptable as a result of a law change in the Representation of the People Bill, which has now entered committee stage.
uncertain
which → tell → stage
Asked whether Mr Delo, who was based in Hong Kong, and Mr Harborne, who has been based in Thailand were UK residents as of March 25, as this would affect their donations, he said: “I’m not going to go into their particular details.
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I → ask → details
“All I’m going to say is, with the law of the land as it stands, they are both compliant.
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they → go → land
“Now, there is talk, and Angela Rayner was talking about this yesterday, there is talk of them retrospectively declaring donations illegally.
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them → be → donations
In an op-ed for the Telegraph later, he threatened to introduce legislation to stop the unions funding Labour should Reform win the next election if Andy Burnham’s administration blocks the £72 million.
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administration → threaten → million
“So I would just warn the Labour Party here and now: If you try and ban our donors, we in government would certainly ban funding from the trade unions.
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we → warn → unions
I don’t want to go down that route.
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I → want → route
But it’s something we would be prepared to do,” he wrote.
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he → ’ → ?
Reform UK has started using the funding to expand its staff, including doubling its policy team from 10 to 20 and 400 new field agents, with a new online channel also expected to be broadcast over YouTube, The Times reported.
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Times → start → YouTube
The Government has said it will set up a taskforce to tackle the issue of “mega-donors” after MPs pressed ministers to go further by imposing a general limit that would also cover domestic donations in its draft legislation.
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that → say → legislation
But Communities Secretary Angela Rayner has suggested a wider cap was still on the table, saying she wanted to stop people “being able to overpower and buy their way into democracy”.
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people → suggest → democracy
The Liberal Democrats, who have been among those calling for a wider cap, said the residency requirements under consideration by ministers would fall short and promised to lay further amendments pushing for stronger action.
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requirements → call → action
“We can’t keep playing whack-a-mole with each new attempt by Farage to sell out our democracy,” the party’s Cabinet Office spokeswoman Lisa Smart MP said.
“Labour’s residency requirements aren’t good enough and the Conservatives simply sat on their hands whilst in power.”
She added: “We’ll be laying amendments in the Lords to institute this donation cap, and tougher rules on what political parties are able to actually spend.”
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parties → keep → what
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