Nigel Farage’s Reform UK have received its largest ever donation, with former Conservative donor Christopher Harborne handing the party £9m.
The donation – one of the largest in British political history – was made in August this year, according to filings from the Electoral Commission.
Mr Harborne, a British businessman based in Thailand, previously donated millions to Reform in 2019, when it was known as the Brexit Party, and has continued to give the party and Mr Farage cash.
Politics latest: Reform gets it largest ever donation
Between 2001 and 2022, he donated close to £2m to the Conservatives, according to Companies House.
The £9m handed to Reform UK on 1 August this year is the largest political donation on record from a living person, after Lord Sainsbury left £10m to the Conservatives in his will in 2023.
Born and educated in the UK, Mr Harbone is now based in Thailand, where he chairs the investment company Sherriff Global Group.
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According to the Electoral Commission, political parties raised £24m in the third quarter of this year – up from £10m over the same time period last year, and £11m last quarter.
With the local and national assembly elections coming up in May next year, parties are building their war chests for the campaign.
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Reform reported taking a total of £10,526,846, more than the Tories (£7,038,861), Labour (£2,564,786), and the Lib Dems (£2,174,712).
This means Mr Farage’s party raised almost as much as the three main parties combined (£11,778,359).
While the Green Party has reported an increase in donations since Zack Polanski became leader, these figures mostly cover the time before he took office, with the party only accepting £371,753.
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The fact Reform have received large volumes of cash from a former Tory donor will do nothing to extinguish reports that the two parties are considering an electoral pact in time for the next general election.
The FT reported that such an agreement was spoken about by Mr Farage in a discussion with party donors.
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Both the Conservatives and Reform have denied they will do a deal.
Reform currently lead voting intention polls, with the Conservatives and Labour together in joint second place followed by the Greens.
