Inside The Sanctuary, the shadowy Westminster club at the centre of crypto-political power

Just a few moments' walk away from the Houses of Parliament, an alternative centre of political power is emerging. Pass through the Gothic facade of The Sanctuary, the striking Victorian building overlooking Westminster Abbey, head up a few floors, and you will find an office space that has become a secretive hub for right-wing and “anti-woke” power players. On the wall of the entrance hall? A framed copy of a presidential pardon from Donald Trump.

Inside are meeting rooms, podcast studios and event spaces that are thought to have hosted a veritable who’s who of the British right, from establishment politicians to more fringe players. At the heart of all of this is the man whose name is on that framed pardon – Ben Delo, the crypto billionaire who has just made history by handing £36m to Reform, the largest donation ever given to a UK political party.

But these offices, seemingly acting as an incubator for a host of right-wing endeavours, suggest his political interests might extend well beyond Farage and co. The Sanctuary, which borrows its name from the building that houses it, provides a hotspot for those involved in Delo’s chosen causes, where they can meet, connect and establish a global network free of charge.