Unions at loggerheads over party funding cap after blockbuster Reform donation
Trade unions have taken aim at “stratospheric” donations and the flow of “dark money into UK politics” after Reform revealed it had pocketed a staggering £72m from just two supporters. The Trade Union Congress (TUC), which groups together some of the largest British unions, stopped short of calling for an outright cap on individual donations [...]
Trade unions have criticized the massive donations received by Reform UK, with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) urging policymakers to address the issue of dark money in UK politics. The TUC has highlighted the stark contrast between crypto and corporate cash, which they deem as "the cleanest money in politics", and union money. The Reform UK donation record of £72m from just two supporters far surpasses the total raised by all UK political parties last year.
The two major donors, Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo, each contributed £36m within 24 hours, despite Delo being convicted for money laundering in the US. Labour, too, is divided on the issue, with some MPs calling for a cap on all donations while others, like GMB, oppose such measures. The government is considering tightening residency rules for donors, which could force Delo and Harborne to return their donations.
Reform UK denies any electoral law violations, while the party's senior aides were investigated by the Metropolitan Police for allegedly discussing how to disguise foreign donations.
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