Reform UK received staggering £22 million in political donations last year
Reform is falling in the polls despite the huge amount it received in donations
Reform UK, which paints itself as an “anti-establishment” party, received a staggering £22.8 million in donations in 2025, by far the largest sum out of any other political party.
Despite having received a huge sum of money in donations according to the latest Electoral Commission figures, the party is now trailing behind Labour according to multiple opinion polls.
Much of Reform’s funding came from a handful of large donors, including £9 million from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, £1 million from Reform’s treasurer, Nick Candy and £250,000 from Fiona Cottrell, the mother of convicted fraudster George Cottrell.
By comparison, the Conservatives received £15.2 million in donations last year, while Labour brought in £6.5 million in donations, and the Green Party and Lib Dems received £2.7 million and £2.6 million respectively.
The Labour MP for Walthamstow, Stella Creasy, has tabled an amendment to the Representation of the People Bill that would cap political donations from any individual or organisation at £100,000.
Responding to the Electoral Commission data on political donations last year, CEO of Unlock Democracy, Tom Brake told Left Foot Forward: “As the sums donated to political parties continue to balloon, buying even more policy influence, the case for a donation cap gets stronger. This makes the government’s unwillingness to act difficult to comprehend.
“The ‘new politics’ Andy Burnham is pledging won’t happen until big money is taken out of politics. He could make this reality with a simple amendment to a bill which will be back in Parliament in less than a month’s time.”
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
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