From the Guardian · · 1m 20s
Reform takes £72m from two crypto billionaires
Two crypto fortunes just bought Reform UK the biggest political donations Britain has ever seen, and Robert Jenrick says it is all above board.
In brief
Two crypto fortunes just bought Reform UK the biggest political donations Britain has ever seen, and Robert Jenrick says it is all above board. Reform UK banked £72m from two crypto investors in 48 hours, a record in British politics, and its defence rests on the donations being legal under current rules rather than…
Jenrick backs the money
Speaking to Sky, Robert Jenrick said he was very confident the donations to Reform UK are perfectly legal.
“very confident”
Would they hand it back
Pressed on whether Reform would return the money if it breached a new law, Jenrick would not commit either way.
“Who knows? I mean, if people try and do something retrospectively, then maybe.”
£72m in 48 hours
Reform UK took £72m from two crypto billionaires over two days, money that landed faster than any party has ever banked a single windfall.
A British record
These are the largest single donations in British political history, dwarfing the sums that normally move through party accounts.
“the largest single donations in British political history”
Harborne goes public
Christopher Harborne announced his £36m donation himself, in the Telegraph, rather than waiting for the usual disclosure filings.
Delo matched it first
Fellow cryptocurrency investor Ben Delo gave an identical £36m on Friday, making the pair equal halves of the record haul.
The takeaway
Reform UK banked £72m from two crypto investors in 48 hours, a record in British politics, and its defence rests on the donations being legal under current rules rather than future ones.
