Reform handed further crypto boss mega-donation

REFORM UK received more cash than any other political party thanks to another mega-donation from a crypto billionaire, the latest official figures reveal.

The hard-right party, currently second in opinion polls, declared donations of £5.3 million in the second quarter of the year.

Hong Kong-based crypto financier Ben Delo, who has a US conviction on money laundering-related charges, gave the Farage-led party £4m.

The revelation came as Labour renewed its commitment to tighten up on political donations – something Andy Burnham has wobbled on.

New Democracy Minister Florence Eshalomi told MPs that the government was “determined to tackle the issue of mega donors in UK politics,” promising a “new cross-government task force to work at pace to find a solution without unintended consequences.”

Eshalomi added that “once these solutions have been found we would want them in force as soon as possible.”

Labour MPs have been pushing for a cap on the size of donations to political parties, with various figures suggested, but all of them well below the level of Mr Delo’s gift.

There have been concerns, however, that a cap could affect traditional union funding for Labour.

Reform, whose party conference opens today, has long been bogged down in rows over its funding by another Asian-based crypto-billionaire, Nigel Harborne, and by George Cottrell, known as “posh George” and having a criminal record in the US.

The latest figures showed that Labour raised £3.6m in declared donations and the Tories £2.8m.