STOP REFORM UK

Who funds Reform UK?

Reform UK has controversial sources of donations and financial backing, with significant connections to wealthy elites, climate change deniers, and even conspiracy theorists. Reform portraying itself as an alternative to the traditional political elite, is heavily reliant on individuals and entities that could be considered part of that very elite.

Reform claims to represent the people and challenge the establishment, but whose financial backers appear to be deeply entrenched in the very elite it criticizes. This raises concerns about the party’s direction and its commitment to its own manifesto promises, particularly regarding issues like climate change and government transparency.


Reform UK Financial Transformation since 2023:

  • Reform UK’s finances were previously dire, with Richard Tice personally funding the party through loans. However, after Nigel Farage took over leadership in June 2024, the party saw a dramatic increase in donations, totalling £1.5 million in the following week. 
  • Major donors have contributed millions, helping the party upgrade its infrastructure, hire staff, and gain prominence. 
  • Reform UK raised £4.75 million in 2024, a third coming from former Tory donors. A large increase from £150,000 raised in 2023.
  • 13 out of 38 donors previously gave to the Conservative Party, showing the scale of the exodus to Farage’s party. 


Donors with Controversial Views: 

  • The majority of donations, around 92%, come from oil and gas interests or climate change deniers. Critics suggest that these donations may have influenced Reform’s shift away from its earlier environmental pledges.
  • Terence Mordaunt, a climate skeptic, donating £200,000,
  • Holly Valance, another climate skeptic, donating £100,000,
  • George Farmer, the husband of Candace Owens and former CEO of far-right platform Parler, donated £200,000 in 2019,
  • Charlie Mullins, who once tweeted “someone should kill” Sadiq Khan, donating £40,000
  • David Lilley, a metals trader that owns Russian farmland, donated £100,000. 


Corporate and wealthy donors

  • More than two thirds of Reform’s donations came from millionaires and multi-millionaires.
  • More than half of Reform’s donations came from those with homes in low-tax countries or with business interests in offshore jurisdictions. They donated a combined £2.5 million.
  • Nick Candy, a luxury property developer who has been appointed party treasure and personally pledged a seven-figure donation and getting pledges in the millions,
  • Zia Yusuf, Muslim entrepreneur and now party chair, donated hundreds of thousands in 2024,
  • Jeremy Hosking, a Brexiteer, who’s trading firm has fossil fuel investments worth more than $350 million has donated over £2.5 million in total,
  • Christopher Harborne, Brexiteer and Thailand based, technology investor and businessman, donated £10 before the 2019 general election, (to add info/link? 
  • David Lilley, an investor in the metals and mining sector, has donated £364,000,
  • Roger Nagioff, former Lehman Brothers banker and Monaco-based investor, who donated £100,000 in 2024,


Unusual Connections and Controversial Figures:

  • Reform UK has connections to some unusual figures, including John Mappin (a conspiracy theorist) using his property for an event,
  • Taking donations from Fiona Cottrell, the mother of a convicted fraudster George Cottrell, who is connected to Farage,
  • The party has also attracted attention from Elon Musk, who reportedly considered donating $100 million but had a falling out with Farage over Tommy Robinson. 

Lack of Transparency:

  • Reform Party does not disclose its membership income, unlike other political parties which report their membership revenues. This lack of transparency raises concerns about the true scale of its income from this source,
  • In 2019, the Brexit Party, now called Reform UK was criticized for a lack of clarity regarding its finances. Specifically, 40% of its £18.9 million expenditure was classified as “other” without further explanation. This classification is unusual, as most political parties provide more detailed breakdowns of their spending. For example: The Labour Party only categorized £1.5 million of its £57 million expenditure as “other,” which is a much smaller percentage. 
  • 136 Reform UK candidates raising money during the 2024 general election anonymously from a crowdfunding platform that allows donors to keep their address secret and donate from abroad.


Reform UK MPs finances and income

  • Nigel Farage’s, MP for Clacton: Farage is described as the UK’s highest-paid MP, earning not only his parliamentary salary but substantial sums from media appearances, speaking engagements, and ambassadorial roles. Over a 30-week period from 4 July to 28 January, he declared over £654,000 from outside work. He has also embarked on ventures like “UK We Save,” a somewhat mysterious business offering consumer goods in bulk. 
  • Richard Tice, MP for Boston and Skegness: Shareholdings in seven companies, including Quidnet REIT, a proposal property company based offshore. Paid £11,685 per quarter for 25 hours per months of work 
  • Lee Anderson, MP for Ashfield: £100,000 per year from GB News 


(Sources: https://hopenothate.org.uk/state-of-hate-2025/, https://leftfootforward.org/2024/01/who-funds-the-reform-uk-party/, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd11xxn833yo, https://www.gbnews.com/politics/nick-candy-reform-millions-flock-funds, https://archive.ph/uBpSa#selection-1981.0-1981.209)