Richard Tice questioned over £72m Reform UK donations

Reform UK's deputy leader, Richard Tice, struggled to answer key questions on Monday regarding two donations totalling £72 million. The funds came from Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo, individuals with connections to Thailand and Hong Kong.

Mr Tice was pressed on when the two major donors returned to the United Kingdom. He stated that the donations were within the law and had been checked by the party's compliance team and lawyers. However, he was unable to provide specific dates for their return to the UK.

Government Considering New Legislation

The government is reportedly considering retrospective legislation that could impact the legality of these large donations. This comes as proposals for a cap on political donations and stricter rules on overseas donors are being debated. Peers were due to discuss calls for a £100,000 limit on payments from overseas electors.

Mr Harborne, described as a crypto-billionaire with links to Thailand, and Mr Delo, who has been based in Hong Kong, are the individuals behind the donations. Mr Delo reportedly stated in April his intention to return to the UK to avoid restrictions on overseas donors. The proposed rules, aimed at countering foreign influence, could affect donations made in the first year someone moves back to the UK and limit annual payments from overseas electors to £100,000.

Campaigners have highlighted the £72 million in gifts as evidence for the need for a cap on political donations. Spotlight on Corruption stated that such situations "create risks that the game will be rigged in favour of those with the most cash". Liberal Democrats have called for emergency legislation to impose a cap, describing the donations as exposing "a dangerous flaw in our democratic system".

Mr Tice also addressed questions about a meeting with the Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, concerning cryptocurrency. He insisted there was no link between that meeting, which he said occurred about a year ago, and the recent donations.