Analysis reveals 80% of Reform UK donations from overseas backers

Labour raises concerns over foreign influence as government plans tighter rules on political funding

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published27 October 2026

Read Time2 min

An analysis by The Independent has found that 80 per cent of donations to Reform UK in the past year have come from overseas donors or companies with controlling directors based abroad. Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson said the scale of the party's reliance on wealthy overseas backers 'raises further questions about the party's financial affairs.' Reform UK insists it has done nothing illegal, and its own investigation concluded no electoral law was broken.

The Independent's analysis of Electoral Commission data shows that 79.41 per cent of donations to Reform UK in the financial year 2025-2026 originated from overseas. This is a stark contrast to Labour and the Conservatives, which received 0.15 per cent and 3.57 per cent respectively.

The analysis identified significant donations from cryptocurrency billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, totalling £8 million and £15 million within the reporting period. Other donors included individuals listed in Hong Kong, Dubai, Portugal and Italy.

Labour chair Bridget Phillipson told The Independent the public deserves to know who is bankrolling Nigel Farage's party and what interests they are seeking to advance. She said the Labour government is working to strengthen political finance laws to better protect democracy from foreign influence.

The revelations come amid ongoing scrutiny of Reform UK's finances. Last month, a sting operation by Channel 4 and the investigative group Verbatim appeared to show senior Reform figures discussing how to disguise foreign donations. The party's own investigation later concluded it did not break electoral law, and Nigel Farage has insisted he and his aides 'had done nothing illegal'.

The government is now looking at how to toughen residency requirements for political donors. Ministers plan to introduce a £100,000 cap on donations from British citizens based overseas, backdated to March this year. This raises questions about whether the party can retain two separate £36 million donations received last month from Delo and Harborne. A government source said an enhanced test would require donors to demonstrate an ongoing presence in the UK, with the prime minister's spokesperson denying the measures were a specific bid to target Reform.

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Share of donations from donors based overseas, by party

% of donations

Financial year 2025-2026, according to The Independent's analysis of Electoral Commission data. Source: The Independent analysis of Electoral Commission data

Analysis

Why This Matters

The findings raise significant questions about foreign influence in British politics.
Proposed tighter rules could jeopardise tens of millions of pounds in donations for Reform UK.
The issue compounds a series of controversies facing the party, adding political pressure.

Background

UK law bans political donations from foreign entities, requiring donors to be registered UK voters or companies. Reform UK has rapidly risen in the polls, facing repeated questions over its funding. Last month's sting operation led to the resignation of Nigel Farage's chief of staff and policy director. The government is simultaneously moving to close loopholes in political donation rules.

Key Perspectives

Bridget Phillipson (Labour Party Chair): Says the scale of Reform's dependence on overseas donors raises further questions about the party's financial affairs and demands transparency. Nigel Farage / Reform UK: Insists the party acted lawfully, with an internal investigation clearing it of breaching electoral law. Prime Minister's Spokesperson: Denied the proposed donation cap was a specific attack on Reform, instead framing it as ensuring donors have a stake in the UK.

What to Watch

The exact details of the government's enhanced residency test for political donors.
Whether the Electoral Commission or other authorities open their own investigation.
How the ongoing scrutiny impacts Reform UK's standing in public opinion polls.

Sources

True scale of Reform UK’s donations from overseas donors revealed · The Independent UK

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

Supported80 per cent of Reform UK donations in the past year came from overseas donors or companies with controlling directors based abroad.The Independent UK: “An astonishing 80 per cent of donations to Reform UK in the past 12 months have come from donors or companies recently based overseas”
SupportedLabour raised concerns about foreign influence while the government planned tighter rules on political funding.The Independent UK: “The government is currently looking at how to toughen residency requirements governing political donations, amid growing concern over foreign influence on British politics.”
SupportedBridget Phillipson said Reform’s reliance on wealthy overseas backers “raises further questions about the party’s financial affairs.”The Independent UK: “Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson said the scale of Reform’s reliance on donations from wealthy overseas backers “raises further questions about the party’s financial affairs”.”
Partly supportedReform UK insisted it had done nothing illegal.The Independent UK: “Mr Farage has insisted he and his aides “had done nothing illegal” and that no money changed hands.”
SupportedReform UK’s own investigation concluded that it had not broken electoral law.The Independent UK: “the party’s own investigation last week concluded that Reform did not break electoral law when senior figures discussed how to disguise foreign donations.”
Partly supportedThe 79.41 per cent figure covers Reform donations in the financial year 2025–2026.The Independent UK: “Of the 79.41 per cent of Reform UK’s donations that came from overseas in the year 2025-2026”
SupportedLabour received 0.15 per cent and the Conservatives 3.57 per cent of their donations from people or companies based abroad.The Independent UK: “Labour and the Conservatives received just 0.15 per cent and 3.57 per cent of their donations from people or companies based abroad respectively during the same period.”
SupportedBen Delo gave £8 million and Christopher Harborne gave £15 million within the reporting period.The Independent UK: “Of the 79.41 per cent of Reform UK’s donations that came from overseas in the year 2025-2026, £8m was given by Mr Delo and £15m from Mr Harborne.”
SupportedThe sting operation appeared to show senior Reform figures discussing how to disguise foreign donations.The Independent UK: “Video footage obtained by Channel 4 and investigative group Verbatim as part of a sting operation appeared to show senior Reform figures discussing how to disguise donations from foreign sources.”
SupportedNigel Farage said he and his aides “had done nothing illegal.”The Independent UK: “Mr Farage has insisted he and his aides “had done nothing illegal” and that no money changed hands.”
SupportedThe government is considering tougher residency requirements for political donors.The Independent UK: “The government is currently looking at how to toughen residency requirements governing political donations”
Partly supportedMinisters plan a £100,000 cap on donations from British citizens based overseas, backdated to March this year.The Independent UK: “Ministers have already moved to introduce a £100,000 cap on the amount of money that can be given to political parties by British citizens based overseas, which would also apply for the first 12 months after any expats return to the UK. The changes would be backdated to this March”