UK Government Proposes Donation Caps Targeting Reform UK Funding

The Government of the United Kingdom has introduced the Representation of the People Bill, which proposes a £100,000 annual cap on political contributions from British expats and recently returned residents. The legislation is retrospective to March 25, 2026, requiring recipients of non-compliant funds to return them within 60 days. The move specifically threatens £72 million in donations received by Reform UK—two £36 million contributions from cryptocurrency billionaires Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo, who are based in Thailand and Hong Kong respectively.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner accused Nigel Farage of accepting money from "sugar daddies" to serve private interests, suggesting a wider donation cap may be necessary to prevent individuals from "buying their way into democracy." In response, Nigel Farage defended the legality of the funds and threatened to ban trade union funding for the Labour Party if Reform UK wins power. He argued that trade unions similarly provide funding to secure favorable policies.

Reform UK officials, including Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick, condemned the bill as a "shoddy stitch-up," accusing the government of behaving like gangsters to rig the system. Meanwhile, the government is considering enhanced residency checks for all donors to ensure contributors have a genuine stake in the UK. The Liberal Democrats have pledged to push for even tougher spending rules and caps in the House of Lords.