{
  "id": 7029756,
  "title": "Crypto-billionaires want 'nothing' for £72m - Reform",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/crypto-billionaires-want-nothing-for-72m-reform",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-13T00:27:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTE News",
    "slug": "rte-news",
    "url": "https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2026/0913/1591329-reformuk-donations/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Reform UK's two crypto-billionaire donors have insisted they will receive nothing in return for their combined £72 million donations to the party. Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo, who gave £36 million each, will not be granted knighthoods, peerages, or government contracts if Reform comes to power. The donations are the largest in British political history and represent three-quarters of the total spent by all parties in the 2024 general election. Harborne, a Thai-based donor, described his gift as a philanthropic contribution to help Reform prepare for government, while Delo, the son of a former US vice-president, aimed to create a level playing field for Reform against other parties. Reform leader Nigel Farage stated the money would be used solely to ensure the party is ready to form a government in the next election, emphasizing the need for extensive research and policy development. The donations have sparked debates about the need for a cap on political contributions to protect British democracy, with Labour MP Stella Creasy proposing an amendment to limit donations to £100,000 annually. Transparency International UK and Spotlight on Corruption have also expressed concerns about the potential impact of such large donations on the electoral process. The bill to regulate political donations will be debated in the House of Lords soon, providing an opportunity to address the issue of mega-donors.",
  "summary": "Reform UK has insisted its two crypto-billionaire donors want \"nothing\" in exchange for their combined £72 million gifts to the party.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}