An investigation by The Guardian has revealed that Christopher Harborne, a billionaire donor to Reform UK, has a global network of commercial interests in the arms industry and military contracts. Harborne is the largest shareholder in a private company, previously the research arm of the UK military, which is now involved in developing autonomous weapons.
Harborne's company, AML Global, which brokers jet fuel, is described by a business associate as a leading supplier to US military operations globally. US government data indicates that AML Global has received more than $140 million in US military contracts since 2017.
The investigation also noted that Harborne's business collaborators include a number of former army officers, air force pilots, military officials, and individuals described as former spies. Harborne's lawyers stated that his commercial interests are not connected to his political affiliations, and that the policies adopted by Mr. Farage and Reform UK are a matter for them.
Sam Power, a political funding expert at the University of Bristol, suggested that while it does not necessarily mean Reform UK's policies will benefit Harborne's military interests, the situation warrants scrutiny, particularly if the party's policies begin to align in this area, as they reportedly have with cryptocurrency.