Politics
Reform UK's £72m donations face retrospective cap as government defends donations bill
September 13, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Angela Rayner said new rules capping donations from overseas and recently returned Britons at £100,000 will apply retrospectively, potentially covering Reform UK's record £72m in donations.
- Reform UK received £72m in donations — £36m each from crypto billionaires Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo — the largest ever given to a UK political party.
- Angela Rayner said the Representation of the People Bill, advancing to the House of Lords this week, caps overseas and recent returnee donations at £100,000 from 25 March.
- Robert Jenrick said the donations are entirely in line with the law and that Ben Delo returned to the UK in part to comply with the changes.
- Rayner said the government has written to the Electoral Commission asking what further measures are needed to protect democracy.