Reform deputy leader Richard Tice accused the government of trying to "retrospectively change rules" after the party disclosed £72m in donations, given as two £36m gifts from Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo. The government has proposed a £100,000 cap on donations from British expatriates, backdated to 25 March, which the House of Lords is set to debate. Reform says the donations would remain lawful and accuses ministers of changing rules in response to competition.
Richard Tice Says Government Seeks 'Retrospective' Rule Change After Reform Wins £72m in Donations
Tice says government trying to 'retrospectively change rules' as Reform receives £72m in donations
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has accused the government of attempting to "retrospectively change rules" after the party announced it had received a total of £72m in donations.
The funding was disclosed this weekend as two separate gifts of £36m each from Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo. Both men are British nationals who have lived abroad — Harborne in Thailand and Delo in Hong Kong.
Context: Until now, the largest single donation to a UK political party was £10m to the Conservatives from Lord John Sainsbury. The scale of Reform's new donations has prompted renewed scrutiny of rules governing donations from British expatriates.
The government has moved to change the law on donations from British citizens living overseas, including a proposed cap of £100,000 and a proposal to backdate that limit to 25 March. The measures were scheduled for debate in the House of Lords later today.
Mr Tice told the BBC the party believed the government was "scared" of competition and was seeking to alter the rules after the donations were announced. Reform maintains that the donations were lawful under the existing rules and would remain legal even if the changes were enacted.
What’s at stake: The government argues the changes are intended to tighten transparency and prevent large overseas-based donations from influencing UK politics. Critics, including Reform, say backdating new limits would be unfair and undermine established legal donations.
The House of Lords debate will clarify whether any retrospective measures will be adopted and could shape future rules on political giving by expats and long-term overseas residents.
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