Reform UK gets second £36m gift, total £72m tops all parties' 2023 funding
Cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne matched Ben Delo's earlier record donation, pushing the party's cash intake beyond the combined amount received by every UK party last year.
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The Reform Party confirmed on Thursday that it had secured another £36 million from Christopher Harborne, a cryptocurrency entrepreneur based in Thailand. Harborne said his contribution was driven by a desire to equal the earlier donation made by Ben Delo, which had been described as the largest ever to a UK political party.
Donor statements
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"my competitive spirit" inspired me to match the earlier gift, and I expect nothing personally in return, just a party that is ready for government
Christopher Harborne, cryptocurrency investor
BBC News reported that the total of £72 million from the two donations surpasses the sum received by every UK political party during the previous calendar year. The figure highlights the scale of private funding entering the political arena from the crypto sector.
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Questions this report answers
+How much did Reform UK receive in the two donations?
Reform UK received two separate gifts of £36 million each, giving a combined total of £72 million. The amount is larger than the total funding all UK parties collected in the previous year, according to the BBC report.
+Who made the second donation?
The second donation was made by Christopher Harborne, a cryptocurrency investor who lives in Thailand. He said his contribution matched the earlier gift from Ben Delo and was motivated by a competitive spirit.
+How does the total compare with other parties' funding last year?
The £72 million from the two Reform UK gifts exceeds the entire sum received by every UK political party in the last calendar year. That comparison was highlighted in the BBC News article.
+What did the donor say about his motives?
Harborne told the Telegraph that his competitive spirit prompted him to match the earlier donation and that he expects nothing personally, only a party ready for government. The BBC article quoted these remarks.
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