Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, stated that the party's two billionaire donors, Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, are 'voters in the UK' and are entitled to contribute any amount to a political party under current laws. Delo and Harborne confirmed donations of £36 million each to Reform UK, raising questions about their residency status as they have spent years abroad, which would have made them subject to Labour's proposed restrictions on foreign donations.
Reform UK's deputy leader, Richard Tice, did not provide details on when Delo and Harborne relocated to the UK. Farage emphasized that their donations comply with existing laws, describing them as 'very successful British entrepreneurs' who are eligible to make these contributions.
Labour plans to introduce legislation to limit donations from British citizens living abroad to £100,000 annually, with the change backdated to March 25, 2026. After this date, donors must prove UK residency for at least 12 months.
Delo, who has been registered to vote in Oxfordshire since 2022, previously indicated he would return to the UK to support Reform's budget. Harborne has been registered in Hampshire intermittently since 2020 and changed his voter registration in June 2026. However, records indicate he was not registered in the UK during 2021 or 2024.
Conservative peer Baroness O'Neill expressed concerns that these donations might fall under the overseas contributors cap. Farage defended the donations, stating any attempts by Labour to restrict them would be met with strong opposition. He noted that Reform UK spent £5.5 million in the 2024 general election, compared to Labour's £30 million and the Conservatives' £23 million.
Downing Street confirmed that Cabinet Office minister Louise Haigh has contacted the Electoral Commission to review the spending limits, arguing that the current £34 million cap is excessive and should be lowered.