UK politics increasingly funded by billionaires as mega-donations surge
Research by the IPPR reveals that £179 million in mega-donations from wealthy individuals has flowed into UK political parties since 2019, marking a significant surge in big money influence. This trend has intensified with recent £36 million contributions from crypto billionaires to Reform UK, prompting rivals to call for stricter donation limits. While some Labour MPs advocate for an annual cap of £100,000 or £500,000, the government remains cautious due to opposition from trade unions regarding potential restrictions on their contributions.
- ▪Total donations from individuals exceeding £1 million have reached £179 million since 2019, according to IPPR research.
- ▪The average annual value of mega-donations rose from £3.9 million between 2001 and 2018 to £13.1 million between 2019 and 2025.
- ▪Two crypto billionaires, Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo, each donated £36 million to Reform UK this month.
- ▪Some Labour MPs are pushing for an annual donation cap of £100,000 or £500,000 to limit the influence of wealthy donors.
- ▪The government has already implemented a £100,000 annual cap on donations from overseas voters but is hesitant to cap domestic mega-donations due to trade union concerns.
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| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/sep/19/uk-politics-increasingly-funded-by-billionaires-as-mega-donations-surge |
| Publication time | Sat, 19 Sep 2026 16:00:50 GMT |
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There is increasing concern among Reform UK’s rivals about the issue of donations of more than £1m, with some Labour MPs pushing for a cap of £100,000 or £500,000 a year. Photograph: Toby Melville/ReutersView image in fullscreenThere is increasing concern among Reform UK’s rivals about the issue of donations of more than £1m, with some Labour MPs pushing for a cap of £100,000 or £500,000 a year. Photograph: Toby Melville/ReutersParty fundingUK politics increasingly funded by billionaires as mega-donations surgeExclusive: A total £179m has been donated by wealthy individuals since 2019, research revealsRowena Mason Whitehall editorSat 19 Sep 2026 12.00 EDTLast modified on Sat 19 Sep 2026 12.03 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleBritish politics is increasingly being funded by individual…
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