Farage says £72m Reform donations are legal 'today', as government seeks to bring in backdated cap
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage defends the legality of two £36 million donations received by his party, despite government efforts to cap such contributions. Farage argues that the law cannot be applied retrospectively to invalidate these funds.
Why it matters
The debate highlights ongoing tensions regarding political campaign finance reform and the influence of large donations from overseas-based citizens.
Nigel Farage speaking to our political editor earlier today
The Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has told the BBC the two £36million donations his party received over the weekend are compliant with the law as it stands – but was more equivocal over whether they would comply with a change in the law currently making its way through parliament.
The British billionaires Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo – who have lived in Thailand and Hong Kong until recently – have made the donations.
The government was already seeking to change the law on donations to political parties from British expats, including a £100,000 annual cap backdated to the 25th of March this year.
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