The legality of £72 million in donations to Reform UK from crypto billionaires Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo is facing scrutiny. Experts are questioning whether the donations comply with an elections bill currently progressing through parliament, which is set to apply retrospectively.
Under existing law, individuals can donate to a political party if they are a British citizen registered to vote in the UK. However, the Representation of the People Act caps donations from overseas registered voters at £100,000 per year. This cap also applies for a full calendar year after returning to the UK.
Crucially, this rule will apply retrospectively from March 25. The key question for both Harborne and Delo is whether they were registered as UK-based voters before that date. If not, their donations exceeding £100,000 each in a 12-month period would be impermissible.
Reports suggest Ben Delo has been registered as a UK-based voter for years, but Christopher Harborne's registration status is less clear. A Channel 4 News report last month indicated he may have only registered as a domestic voter in June, which would subject him to the cap until January 2028 and render his donation illegal. Reform UK has declined to specify when both men registered as UK residents.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, stated on Monday that the donations are "100% compliant with the law today." However, he did not confirm whether Delo and Harborne were UK residents as of March 25, expressing concerns about the retrospective application of the bill.
Ministers are reportedly considering amendments to the bill to clarify UK residency requirements, potentially aligning them with income tax tests. If donations are ruled illegal once the elections bill becomes law, Reform UK would be required to return the money. Individuals found to have provided false information to electoral administrators could face criminal liability, including unlimited fines or imprisonment.