Reform UK raises £9m in first quarter, outpacing other parties in donations
10 reported
Reform UK raised £9 million in private donations during the first three months of 2026, far exceeding the roughly £4 million each raised by Labour and the Conservatives, according to newly published figures. The bulk of Reform’s funding came from two cryptocurrency billionaires: Christopher Harborne, a British-Thai dual citizen and aviation investor, donated £3 million, while Ben Delo, a cryptocurrency entrepreneur relocating from Hong Kong to the UK, gave £4 million. Together, their contributions account for one-third of all private money flowing into British politics in the first quarter. Harborne’s latest donation brings his total contributions to Reform to £15 million over the past year, while Delo is a first-time donor to the party. Other Reform donors include David Grainger, an investor in health and longevity, who gave £1 million, and Navroz Udwadia, co-founder of investment firm New Wave Global. A company owned by Reform’s South Tyneside council leader, Paul Mackings, donated £111,000. The Conservatives received a £1.1 million donation from Mary V Doran, while Labour’s largest contributors were regular donors David Sainsbury, Gary Lubner, and major trade unions. Overall, donations in the first quarter more than doubled compared to the same period last year, driven largely by Reform’s crypto investor support.
What’s reported
Reform UK raised £9 million in private donations in the first quarter of 2026.
Labour and the Conservatives each raised about £4 million from private donations in the same period.
Christopher Harborne donated £3 million to Reform; his total donations over the last year reached £15 million.
Ben Delo donated £4 million to Reform; he is a first-time donor relocating from Hong Kong to the UK.
David Grainger donated £1 million to Reform; Navroz Udwadia also donated.
A company owned by Paul Mackings, Reform’s South Tyneside council leader, donated £111,000.
The Conservatives received £1.1 million from Mary V Doran.
Labour’s largest contributors were David Sainsbury, Gary Lubner, and major trade unions.
Total donations in the first quarter were £24.7 million, more than double the previous year.
The UK government plans to limit overseas donations and impose a moratorium on cryptocurrency donations.
Key figures
Nigel Farage (leader of Reform UK, mentioned as party leader)
Christopher Harborne (cryptocurrency and aviation investor, British-Thai dual citizen, Reform donor)
Ben Delo (cryptocurrency entrepreneur, Reform donor)
David Grainger (investor in health and longevity, Reform donor)
Navroz Udwadia (co-founder of New Wave Global, Reform donor)
Paul Mackings (Reform leader on South Tyneside council)
Mary V Doran (Conservative donor)
David Sainsbury (Labour donor)
Gary Lubner (Labour donor)
Susan Hawley (executive director of Spotlight on Corruption campaign group)
Keir Starmer (UK prime minister, mentioned as pressed on donation cap)
Jackie Killeen (director of regulation at the Electoral Commission)
Sources: The Guardian
