The 'gaping loopholes' used by billionaire to bankroll Reform UK
An investigation by Channel 4 News alleges that cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne used residency loopholes to donate over £25 million to Reform UK. The report claims he toggled between UK and Thai residency to bypass political donation regulations.
Why it matters
This investigation raises significant questions about the transparency and regulation of political campaign financing in the UK.
Channel 4 News Jul 27, 2026 34 4 16 Share By Channel 4 News Investigations Team
The cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne has used “gaping loopholes” in the law to bankroll Reform UK while declaring his home as both Thailand and the UK to different authorities, Channel 4 News can reveal.
Harborne, one of the biggest donors in British political history, moved from Britain to Thailand in the 1990s and became a Thai citizen in 2011.
At the time, British citizens who lived abroad could only donate to UK political parties for 15 years after they emigrated. But the majority of Harborne’s more than £25 million in registered donations were made at least 20 years after he moved to Thailand.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in