Donations of £72m make Reform’s prospects both rosier and riskier
But all things are not equal, and with such a huge amount comes risk.Reform UK has been vocal in its arguments that two sudden £36m windfalls from billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne merely “levels the playing field” with the bigger parties when it comes to funding.In one sense, this carries some weight. Of the £65m-ish spent in 2024 by the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Green and Reform parties, less than a 10th was used by Nigel Farage’s party. They could fund the employment of a new staff member in every UK constituency until the election, though their impact is magnified by the fact that parties devote resources to a much smaller number of target seats.So, what is the downside?
- ▪But all things are not equal, and with such a huge amount comes risk.Reform UK has been vocal in its arguments that two sudden £36m windfalls from billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne merely “levels the playing field” with the big
- ▪Of the £65m-ish spent in 2024 by the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Green and Reform parties, less than a 10th was used by Nigel Farage’s party.
- ▪They could fund the employment of a new staff member in every UK constituency until the election, though their impact is magnified by the fact that parties devote resources to a much smaller number of target seats.So, what is the downside?
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| Original publisher | The Guardian — World |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/sep/12/reform-uk-billionaire-donations-analysis |
| Publication time | Sat, 12 Sep 2026 16:06:59 GMT |
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‘One of the downsides of the windfalls is the renewed focus they will place on Nigel Farage’s own finances.’ Photograph: Sean Smith/The GuardianView image in fullscreen‘One of the downsides of the windfalls is the renewed focus they will place on Nigel Farage’s own finances.’ Photograph: Sean Smith/The GuardianReform UKAnalysisDonations of £72m make Reform’s prospects both rosier and riskierPeter Walker Senior political correspondentParty can boost its campaign power with funds from billionaire backers, but it can also lose support from ordinary BritonsSat 12 Sep 2026 12.06 EDTFirst published on Sat 12 Sep 2026 10.53 EDTShareAll things being equal, pretty much any political strategist would welcome a £72m war chest; a sum higher than the combined spending of every major party at the 2024…
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