Richard Tice Defends Reform UK’s Crypto Supporters

Tice Insists No Rules Were Broken

Appearing on the Today programme, Tice claimed the donations from Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo were entirely legitimate. The two men have given a combined £72 million to the party.

The party now faces questions about the donors’ residency status. New legislation aims to prevent overseas donors from giving more than £100,000 until they have lived in the UK for over a year, a rule backdated to March 2026.

Who the Donors Actually Are

Christopher Harborne became a Thai citizen in 2011 after relocating to Thailand in the 1990s. Tice struggled during the interview to confirm when Harborne last returned to the UK, or whether he currently pays UK tax.

Ben Delo, the other major donor, was convicted in the US for failing to comply with money laundering laws. He was later pardoned by Donald Trump. Tice also could not confirm Delo’s current UK residency status when pressed.

Critics have questioned the “patriot” label given the donors’ extensive overseas ties. Harborne’s Thai citizenship and Delo’s Hong Kong base are central to that criticism. Tice maintained throughout that the money came with “no demands” attached.

Why Would Crypto Billionaires Fund This Party

Nick Robinson pressed Tice on why two crypto billionaires would choose to fund a party that promises tax cuts and deregulation for their industry. Tice pointed to a £500 tax break as one motivation, and said the donors also wanted to “save the country.”

Tice also asked listeners to “trust the word of our compliance team” regarding the party’s vetting process. That claim was immediately questioned, partly because the existence and effectiveness of such a team has not been independently verified. It follows separate reports of potential overseas donor negotiations involving other Reform figures.

Farage Weighs In

Nigel Farage, Reform’s honorary president, later addressed the controversy directly. He admitted the donations might not meet the new legislative deadlines, but placed the blame on the government for creating the regulations rather than on Reform for accepting the money.

Funding Rules Face Wider Pressure

The £72 million donation has intensified calls for stricter party funding rules across UK politics. Labour has faced its own scrutiny over union donations during the same period.

• The current legislation is expected to pass as planned
• Further laws imposing donation caps remain possible
• Angela Rayner drew a distinction between union funding and crypto billionaire money, warning that “politics could be bought, just by the right sort of people”

The broader debate over donor transparency and party funding rules shows no sign of settling soon.