Record £36m Political Donation
Trump-Pardoned Crypto Investor Ben Delo Donates Record £36 Million to Reform UK
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Delo said the £36 million would be paid at a rate of £1 million a month before the next national election, which is due by mid-2029.
2
Delo argued that Reform should move beyond fundraising and focus on governing, saying it needed time and money to develop detailed policies and draft legislation: “It takes time to develop thought-through policies and draft legislation, and it takes real money.”
3
Delo framed the donation as opposition to what he called a political “cartel,” saying he wanted “a fair fight and a level playing field” rather than parties attempting to prevent Reform from competing on equal terms.
4
The donation follows Delo’s earlier financial support for Reform: one report said he had previously given the party £8 million, while another described a £4 million contribution in the most recent quarter.
5
Reform’s fundraising has lagged far behind the major parties: between January 2021 and September 2026, the Conservatives raised £150 million and Labour £128 million, compared with £38 million for Reform, according to the report.
Crypto investor Ben Delo has pledged a record £36 million to Nigel Farage's Reform UK, the largest single donation in British political history. Free Malaysia Today reports that Delo, co-founder of the cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX, will pay the money at £1 million per month ahead of the next national election due by mid-2029. Delo said the gift would create a "fair fight" against Labour and the Conservatives and help Reform prepare to govern.
The donation comes as Reform faces funding challenges and political controversy. The Sun notes that Delo, who was previously convicted of banking-secrecy violations in the US, received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. Reform has raised only £38 million since 2021, while the Conservatives collected £150 million and Labour £128 million over the same period.
Record Gift Dwarfs Previous Political Donations
Delo's £36 million pledge shatters the previous UK record. Headtopics confirms the contribution exceeds any prior single gift to a British political party by a massive margin. The Conservatives' previous record of £10 million looks tiny by comparison. Delo will transfer the money gradually—£1 million monthly—giving Reform a steady funding stream for the next four years.
Delo argues Reform needs serious money to become a genuine competitor. He stated it "takes real money" to develop detailed policies and draft legislation. Reform has been vastly outspent by Labour and the Conservatives, putting the party at a severe disadvantage. Delo sees this donation as leveling the playing field for a three-way political contest.
Trump Pardon Adds Political Controversy to Gift
Delo's past creates uncomfortable questions about the donation. CTV News reports he was convicted in the United States of banking-secrecy violations—charges related to BitMEX's compliance failures. He later received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, raising questions about whether US political interests influenced his UK gift timing.
The pardon adds complexity to Delo's motivation. Critics might view the donation through the lens of Trump's political comeback and potential US-UK alignment. Yet Delo frames his gift simply: he wants competition in British politics rather than a "cartel" protecting Labour and Conservative dominance. Whether the pardon influences his UK activism remains unclear.
Reform Struggles With Fundraising and Fresh Scandals
Reform faces a massive cash gap compared to established parties. Since January 2021, the Conservatives raised £150 million and Labour £128 million. Reform managed only £38 million—less than a third of Labour's haul. Delo's gift alone nearly triples Reform's five-year total, but the party starts from a deep financial hole.
Recent controversies have damaged Reform's momentum further. CP24 notes the party faces allegations that aides arranged for a US firm to fund polling. That scandal triggered government investigations and voter backlash, contributing to declining support. Delo's massive donation may help Reform rebuild, but it also invites scrutiny about foreign money influencing British politics.
Sentiment
Mostly PositiveNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
60
Articles
250
Reach
310
A
AnonymousAuthor
