True scale of Reform UK’s donations from overseas donors revealed
An analysis of Electoral Commission data found that 79.41 per cent of donations received by Reform UK in 2025-26 came from people or companies based abroad in the previous two years. The figure is far higher than the shares reported for Labour and the Conservatives, and has prompted renewed scrutiny of overseas influence in British political funding.
The analysis includes £8m from Ben Delo and £15m from Christopher Harborne, but excludes their later donations of £36m each because those fell outside the period examined. Other donors cited include executives and companies with links to Hong Kong, Dubai, Portugal and Italy. There is no suggestion of illegal activity; the government is considering tighter residency rules, including a proposed £100,000 cap on donations from British citizens living overseas and during their first year after returning.
In short
- Nearly four-fifths of Reform UK donations came from recently overseas-based donors.
- Two later donations of £36m each were outside the analysis period.
- The government is considering tighter residency rules for political donations.
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The case for
Supporters of tighter rules argue that political donations should reflect a meaningful connection to Britain, since large contributions from people living abroad may create opportunities for outside influence or public doubts about whose interests parties serve. Residency limits or caps could protect confidence in elections while still allowing overseas Britons to support parties within clear boundaries.
The case against
Critics of tighter rules argue that British citizens abroad retain political rights and may have strong, lasting ties to the country, so restricting their donations could unfairly weaken their participation. They may also argue that existing disclosure and donation laws should be enforced consistently, and that foreign residence or international business links alone do not show improper influence.
Explained simply
Reform UK is a political party in Britain, and like other parties it receives donations to help fund its activities. The Electoral Commission records donations above certain thresholds, including who gave them and, where relevant, where they are based.
British rules allow donations from some people living overseas if they meet legal requirements, such as being registered to vote in the UK. The debate is about whether those rules give overseas residents too much influence over British politics, and whether they should be tightened.
The issue matters because political donations can affect parties’ resources and raise questions about transparency and public confidence. The figures described do not indicate that any donation was illegal; the government is considering possible changes to the rules.