Reform UK has received a record £36m donation from British cryptocurrency billionaire Ben Delo, making him by far the UK's biggest political donor, according to reporting by the Guardian and Al Jazeera.
Key facts
- Ben Delo donated a record £36m to Reform UK, according to the Guardian.
- Delo was convicted in the US for failing to implement adequate anti-money laundering controls and was later pardoned by Trump, according to the Guardian.
- He is now the UK's biggest political donor, dwarfing a £15m contribution from Thailand-based donor Christopher Harborne.
- Al Jazeera reported a second crypto billionaire donated a record $49m to Reform UK.
- Total money pledged to Reform since Friday reached $97m, according to Al Jazeera.
Reform UK has been given a record £36m donation by Ben Delo, a British cryptocurrency billionaire, according to the Guardian. The contribution makes Delo by far the largest political donor in the UK.
Delo was convicted in the United States for failing to implement adequate anti-money laundering controls and was subsequently pardoned by Trump, the Guardian reported.
The businessman has moved back to the UK from Hong Kong, according to the Guardian. His donation dwarfs the £15m contribution to Reform UK from Thailand-based donor Christopher Harborne.
Al Jazeera reported a further donation from a second crypto billionaire of a record $49m to Reform UK.
According to Al Jazeera, the combined donations increased the total sum of money pledged to Reform since Friday to $97m.
The donations arrived in quick succession over a matter of days, according to the two outlets.
Why it matters
Political donations of this size can significantly increase a party's financial resources ahead of elections. The Guardian noted that one of the donors, Delo, was previously convicted in the US before being pardoned, a detail relevant to scrutiny of major UK political funding.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Ben Delo?
Ben Delo is a British cryptocurrency billionaire who has moved back to the UK from Hong Kong. He was convicted in the US for failing to implement adequate anti-money laundering controls and was pardoned by Trump, according to the Guardian.
How much has Reform UK received in total?
According to Al Jazeera, the total sum of money pledged to Reform since Friday reached $97m, including a record $49m from a second crypto billionaire.
How does Delo's donation compare to other donors?
The Guardian reports that Delo's £36m donation makes him the biggest UK political donor by far, dwarfing the £15m given to Reform UK by Thailand-based donor Christopher Harborne.