Farage’s Reform UK secures second £36m donation from cryptocurrency tycoon in two days

Reform UK has received its second £36m donation in just two days as another cryptocurrency billionaire backs Nigel Farage’s party with a huge donation.

Thai-based businessman Christopher Harborne, the party’s biggest donor to date, matched the record £36m donation given on Friday by fellow crypto tycoon Ben Delo.

It has sparked renewed calls for donations to be capped, with Reform netting £72m from just two men, provoking fears that mega donations could distort British politics.

Senior Labour MP Richard Burgon, one of the figures who backed Andy Burnham to take over as prime minister, warned: “Our democracy should not be for sale.”

As the donation was announced and confirmed to have been banked, Reform put out a social video of Mr Farage hitting back at recent accusations against him insisting: “I can’t be bought, I can’t be bullied.”

Reacting to the donation in an official statement, Mr Farage said he was honoured and humbled the pair had “shown such confidence in Reform”.

He added: “Both men know that we are the only party that can turn the country around and win the next general election – thanks to their generosity, we are now able to fight that election on a level playing field.”

Mr Harborne has already given £15m to the party, while a separate £5m donation from him to Mr Farage is at the centre of an investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog after the Reform leader failed to declare it in his register of interests.