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New regulations are being proposed to restrict the amount of money overseas voters who move to the UK can donate to political parties. Under these plans, individuals who recently arrived in the UK would be limited to donating no more than £100,000 annually for their first year of residence. This measure is part of a broader government effort aimed at preventing foreign financial influence on British elections.
Alongside these residency requirements, ministers have introduced tougher rules concerning company donations. Instead of basing donation limits on a company’s revenue, the government intends to assess them against post-tax profits averaged over the last five years. This adjustment is designed to ensure that only businesses with genuine UK ties will be eligible to contribute. Additionally, prospective election candidates will be compelled to verify that any funding they received before officially standing for office is legitimate, with a requirement to declare donations exceeding £2,230 acquired prior to candidacy.
These proposals could notably impact some prominent donors to Reform UK. Christopher Harborne, a billionaire businessman residing in Thailand, made headlines last year by donating £9 million in a single contribution to the party—the largest single donation ever given by a living individual to a UK political party. In total, Harborne donated £12 million to Reform in 2025, followed by another £3 million earlier this year. Meanwhile, cryptocurrency investor Ben Delo has given £4 million to the party between January and March. Both men have recently indicated intentions to return to the UK, but under the new rules, their donations would still be capped at £100,000 annually for a year after their return.
The government’s new rules follow a review led by former senior civil servant Philip Rycroft, aimed at countering foreign financial interference in UK politics. Communities Secretary Steve Reed emphasized the importance of these changes, stating, “British democracy is not for sale.” He added that the measures will help close loopholes that allow questionable funding and reduce foreign influence in political processes. The reforms will be presented as amendments to the Representation of the People Bill, expected to be further discussed in the House of Commons on 14 July. Although Reform UK has criticized the changes—with their home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf accusing Labour of restricting legal funding to its rivals—the government maintains that these steps are essential for protecting the integrity of British elections
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