Reform would have kept just a fraction of £26.7m it raised under a £100,000 donations cap, analysis shows

Reform UK would have retained a mere fraction of its recent donations if a proposed £100,000 cap on political contributions had been in effect, according to analysis shared with The Guardian. The study, conducted by Friends of the Earth using Electoral Commission data, highlights the party's significant dependence on a small number of affluent donors. Under the proposed cap, Reform UK's fundraising for the April 2025 to March 2026 period would have plummeted to £4.1 million from the £26.7 million actually received. This contrasts sharply with other major parties; Labour would have kept about three-quarters of its donations, the Conservatives just over half, and the Liberal Democrats around 90%. The findings underscore Reform UK's reliance on large individual contributions, with two billionaires, Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo, accounting for 71% of its registered donation income over the analyzed period. The analysis precedes a parliamentary debate on the Representation of the People Bill, where an amendment to introduce such a cap is expected. The debate is occurring amidst ongoing concerns about the influence of wealthy donors in British politics.