Reform UK receives millions more from crypto investor

A Thailand-based crypto investor has again bolstered Reform UK’s fighting fund with a multi-million pound donation.

Nigel Farage’s party took in more money than the Conservatives and Labour combined in the last quarter of 2025.

The fundraising puts it in a strong position to fight the upcoming Scottish and Welsh parliamentary elections, as well as local contests in England.

UK-born Christopher Harborne gave £3m to Reform in November, three months after making a £9m donation in what was the largest ever single payment to a UK political party by a living donor.

Harborne is a long-term backer of Farage’s political mission, having previously made substantial donations to the Brexit Party.

Reform recorded £5.5m in cash donations in the last quarter of 2025, according to the Electoral Commission, while the Conservatives attracted £2.4m, and governing party Labour took in £1.9m. For the Liberal Democrats, the total was £1.3m.

The totals represent reportable donations over a threshold of £11,180.

For Scotland-only parties, the SNP brought in £135,000 and the Scottish Greens did not record any donations over the threshold.

The sums given to the SNP mark a turnaround from the previous quarter, when no reportable funds were accepted.

Including public funds, political parties registered in the UK reported accepting a total of £64.8m in 2025.

Jackie Killeen, director of electoral administration and regulation at the Electoral Commission, commented: “Almost £65m in donations was accepted by political parties during 2025. The UK political finance system has high levels of transparency, and we know that voters are interested in where parties get their money from. This publication is an important part of delivering this information for voters.

“However, we know there are parts of the system that need strengthening, and we have been calling for changes to the law for some time. The UK Government’s proposed reforms to the political finance regime in the Representation of the People Bill could strengthen donation controls and help ensure voters can have confidence in the political finance system.  We will continue to work with the government so that any changes are evidence based and workable in practice.”

The results follow polling which puts the SNP in first place for the Holyrood election, with Labour improving its position to overtake Reform.

Scots will go to the polls on 7 May, when the Senedd and English local ballots will also be held.

The founder of aviation fuel firm AML Global, Harborne has substantial crypto interests and a major shareholder in UK-based defence company Qinetiq.