Christopher Harborne, a British cryptocurrency investor based in Thailand, has given Reform UK a record £9 million donation, the largest ever from a living person to a British political party. The contribution, reported by the Electoral Commission, surpasses previous records and comes amid Reform's rising poll performance. Party leader Nigel Farage insists the donor seeks no favors in return.
On 1 August, Christopher Harborne donated £9 million to Reform UK, as revealed in the Electoral Commission's latest figures for July to September. This sum breaks the previous record of £8 million given by Lord David Sainsbury to the Liberal Democrats in 2019 and is the largest single donation by a living person, second only to the £10 million bequest from Harborne's cousin Lord John Sainsbury to the Conservatives after his death in 2022.
Harborne, a British-born aviation entrepreneur and crypto investor who has lived in Thailand for over 20 years and holds a Thai passport (also known as Chakrit Sakunkrit), previously supported the Conservatives under Boris Johnson—including a £1 million donation and a trip to Ukraine—and gave significant sums to Reform's predecessor, the Brexit Party, in 2019 and 2020. He had not donated to politics for five years until this contribution. His businesses, AML Global and Sherriff Group, are linked to private aircraft.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, a cryptocurrency advocate who announced in May that his party would accept Bitcoin donations—the first in the UK—speaks with Harborne roughly once a month or every six weeks. "Does he want anything from me? No. Absolutely nothing in return at all," Farage said. He added that Harborne believes the UK has not maximized Brexit benefits or embraced 21st-century technologies. In September, shortly after the donation, Farage promoted Tether—a stablecoin company in which Harborne holds shares—on LBC radio, calling it a key bridge to cryptocurrencies and urging London to embrace the sector. At a Bitcoin conference in May and a London crypto event on 13 October, Farage pledged a "crypto revolution" and a "Big Bang 2 for crypto."
The donation boosted Reform's quarterly total to over £10.2 million, exceeding the Conservatives' £4.6 million, Labour's £2.1 million, and the Liberal Democrats' £1 million—marking the first such quarter since the 2024 election. Overall since July 2024, Conservatives lead with £14.4 million to Reform's £13.5 million. Other Reform donors included £500,000 from property developer Nick Candy and £100,000 from investor William Alan McIntosh.
The Electoral Commission confirmed Harborne as a permissible donor, eligible via the UK electoral register despite living abroad. However, concerns arose over potential conflicts. Liberal Democrat spokesperson Lisa Smart called for an investigation into the donation and Farage's Tether promotion, warning it undermines democracy. The Electoral Reform Society's Dr. Jess Garland highlighted the trend of mega-donors without caps, urging law reforms. IPPR's Dr. Parth Patel echoed calls for donation limits amid rising wealthy influence.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed the gift as a "one-off," noting her party's stronger overall fundraising. A Reform spokesman hailed the figures as evidence of momentum ahead of May's local elections, with the next general election not due until 2029. Parties report donations over £11,180; Reform received £227,835 in public funds for the quarter, far below the Conservatives' £2.3 million.