Ben Delo gives Reform UK record £36m donation

September 12, 2026 at 04:27 AM2 min

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British cryptocurrency billionaire Ben Delo has donated £36m to Reform UK, the largest single donation ever given to a UK political party. Party leader Nigel Farage said he was 'honoured and humbled' by the gift. The donation comes as Reform faces a police investigation over alleged breaches of foreign funding laws.

Key Facts

The £36m donation from Ben Delo is the largest single donation ever given to a UK political party.
Delo said he would donate £1m a month until the latest possible 2029 general election date, but gave the full amount up front.
The Metropolitan Police announced an investigation on Thursday over allegations Reform broke foreign funding laws.
Farage is under investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner over a £5m cash gift from Thailand-based investor Christopher Harborne.

Record Donation

Ben Delo, a British cryptocurrency billionaire, donated £36m to Reform UK. The sum is the biggest single donation ever given to a political party in the UK. Delo wrote in the Daily Telegraph that he wanted a 'fair fight and a level playing field'. Party leader Nigel Farage said he was 'honoured and humbled' by the gift.

Funding Scrutiny

Reform is facing scrutiny over its finances as the government seeks to limit donations from British expats. Police announced an investigation on Thursday over allegations the party broke foreign funding laws. An undercover Channel 4 News reporter recorded two senior Reform aides apparently suggesting a way around electoral law to secure foreign donations. The party denied any wrongdoing and said it would co-operate with the investigation.

Parallel Investigations

Farage is under investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner over a £5m cash gift from Thailand-based cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne. Farage has argued he was under no obligation to register the 'purely private' gift. The Metropolitan Police is also examining payments from a company controlled by Reform's deputy leader, Richard Tice, which received £1m from Fiona Cottrell in June 2024.