Reform UK Receives Record £9 Million Donation from Former Conservative Donor

Reform UK has secured its largest donation to date after businessman Christopher Harborne contributed £9 million to the party, marking one of the biggest political gifts in modern British history. The donation, made in August and published this week in Electoral Commission filings, is now the largest political contribution on record from a living individual. Only Lord Sainsbury’s posthumous £10 million bequest to the Conservative Party in 2023 surpasses it.

Harborne, a British investor who now resides in Thailand, has a long history of supporting right-leaning political movements. He previously donated millions to the Brexit Party in 2019, before it was rebranded as Reform UK under Nigel Farage. He has also made regular personal contributions to Farage himself. Between 2001 and 2022, Harborne donated nearly £2 million to the Conservative Party, according to Companies House records, before shifting his backing more firmly toward Reform.

His latest donation represents a significant financial boost for Farage’s party at a moment when Reform UK is attempting to expand its influence and contest more seats across the country. The Electoral Commission’s disclosure shows the money was transferred on 1 August. Analysts say contributions of this scale can transform the scale of campaigning, allowing for greater national visibility and organisational growth.

Harborne also played a role in supporting Farage’s international travel this year. He covered around £28,000 in expenses for Farage to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration event in the United States. Later, he funded roughly £33,000 for Farage to travel to the U.S. again to meet the former president following the failed assassination attempt during the election period. Both trips were declared in accordance with political transparency rules.

Educated in the United Kingdom, Harborne is now chair of Sherriff Global Group, an investment company headquartered in Thailand. His business interests span multiple countries, and he has remained a prominent figure among donors who back populist and Eurosceptic political causes.

Speaking at a news conference, Nigel Farage responded to questions about Harborne’s role in the party. He acknowledged that the businessman operates across various international markets but said Harborne’s “natural home” remains the UK. Farage described him as someone who wants to support political change and sees Reform UK as the party capable of delivering it.

The size of the donation is likely to reignite debate over the influence of private money in British politics. Reform UK has argued that large individual donors are necessary to compete with the established political parties, while critics say the scale of such contributions raises questions about access and influence.

With the general election approaching, the £9 million boost gives Reform UK a financial foundation stronger than at any point in its history. How the party channels that funding into campaigning, staffing and outreach could play a defining role in its performance at the polls.