Reform UK Surges Ahead in Fundraising Race with Record £9 Million Donation
A massive influx of cash, spearheaded by a £9 million donation, has propelled Reform UK to the forefront of British political fundraising, substantially outpacing both the Labor adn conservative parties. This unprecedented financial support marks a pivotal moment for Nigel Farage’s party as it seeks to capitalize on its current lead in opinion polls.
Reform UK received a total of £10.3 million in cash donations during the third quarter of the year, according to data released by the electoral Commission on Thursday. This figure dwarfs the £4.5 million raised by the Conservatives and the £1.9 million secured by Labour. The surge in funding comes as Reform UK consistently leads in opinion polls since April, though converting that support into electoral success has proven challenging until now.
The record donation originates from Christopher Harborne, an aviation entrepreneur and crypto investor residing in Thailand, despite being born in Britain. Harborne previously provided substantial financial backing to Farage’s Brexit party – Reform’s predecessor – in 2019 and 2020, but had ceased direct contributions until recently. This latest gift represents the largest single donation ever made to a UK political party by a living donor.
Harborne’s business interests are diverse. He founded AML Global, an aviation fuel company, and holds investments in Tether, the issuer of the largest stablecoin, and its affiliated crypto exchange, Bitfinex. He is also the largest shareholder in Qinetiq, a British defense company contracted by the UK government.
Beyond Harborne’s contribution, Reform UK also benefited from a £500,000 donation from Nick Candy, the party’s treasurer, and £100,000 from William Alan mcintosh, founder of Emerald Investment Partners.
The Conservative party, despite slipping to third place in the polls under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership, continued to attract support from established donors. Video games tycoon Jeremy Elliott San contributed £1 million in the third quarter, bringing his total donations to the party this year to £3 million. Harborne himself previously donated £1.8 million to the Conservatives between 2003 and 2022, demonstrating a history of political engagement across the spectrum. To date, Harborne has declared a total of £24.5 million in political donations, with £22.7 million going to Reform UK.He also provided a £1 million donation to the Office of Boris Johnson Ltd. in November 2022, following the former prime Minister’s resignation.
While Harborne’s donation is the largest from a living donor, Lord John sainsbury left the Tories £10 million in his will in 2022.
Labour, meanwhile, received approximately £750,000 from Unite and £450,000 from the GMB during the third quarter.
The July to September period marks the first quarter since the 2024 general election in which Reform has surpassed the Tories in donations, signaling a potentially significant shift in the financial landscape of British politics.This influx of funds will undoubtedly empower Reform UK to amplify its message and challenge the established parties in the upcoming electoral contests.
Why: Reform UK has experienced a surge in donations, primarily due to a record £9 million contribution from Christopher Harborne
