Reform UK has stated it is “very confident” it will not be forced to return £72m in recent donations, despite government plans to introduce retrospective legislation designed to cap political gifts from overseas electors.
The party received two record-breaking donations of £36m each over the weekend of 12-13 September 2026. The funds were provided by cryptocurrency figures Ben Delo, who recently returned to the UK from Hong Kong, and Thailand-based businessman Christopher Harborne.
The timing of the donations coincides with a critical stage for the Representation of the People Bill, which is scheduled for debate in the House of Lords today, Monday 14 September. The proposed legislation seeks to tighten the rules on political funding following the Rycroft review into foreign influence in British politics.
Retrospective rules and repayment windows
Housing and Communities Secretary Angela Rayner has confirmed that the new donor rules will be applied retrospectively, backdated to 25 March 2026. This specific date aligns with the publication of the Rycroft review.
Under the proposed measures, donations from overseas electors would be capped at £100,000 per year. Rayner stated that any political party found to be in breach of these rules once the Bill passes would have a 60-day window to return the prohibited funds.
The government’s stance suggests that the residency status and recent history of donors will come under intense scrutiny. However, Reform UK’s economic spokesperson, Robert Jenrick, has maintained that the party has followed all legal requirements.
Reform UK’s position
Speaking on behalf of the party, Mr Jenrick said Reform UK is “very confident” that the £72m meets the criteria of both current and proposed future statutes. The party’s defence rests on the argument that the donors are permissible under electoral law and that the retrospective nature of the Bill may face significant legal challenges.
If Reform UK is permitted to keep the funds, the £72m would represent a transformative war chest for the party, dwarfing the usual campaign budgets of smaller political organisations and rivaling the spending power of the two main parties.
The House of Lords debate today marks a significant hurdle for the Bill. Critics of the government’s plan have raised concerns about the principle of retrospective legislation, while supporters argue it is a necessary step to ensure the integrity of the UK’s democratic processes and limit the influence of offshore wealth on domestic policy.
