Reform UK, the political party led by former Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, has begun an aggressive media expansion backed by a record £72 million ($96 million) in donations from two cryptocurrency entrepreneurs. The party is investing heavily in launching a YouTube-based television channel as part of a broader effort to bypass traditional media outlets, which it views as hostile to its message, and to regain momentum lost in recent opinion polls.
The significant funding was provided in September by Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo, each donating £36 million. Reform UK plans to use the money not only to build its media presence but also to support its headquarters operations, policy development, advisory recruitment, and campaign activities ahead of a anticipated national election scheduled by mid-2029. The party also intends to launch a newspaper with an initial print run of 15 million copies.
According to party officials, including Gawain Towler, a member of Reform’s governing board, the new media efforts will include hiring approximately 25 journalists and editors and producing daily content encompassing interviews, documentaries, and other programming. This strategy is designed to enhance Reform’s existing social media output, which currently posts around eight videos weekly on YouTube. The channel’s format is said to be reminiscent of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Trump TV, offering a 24-hour streaming platform to disseminate party-sanctioned content.
The fundraising total raised by Reform UK so far in 2024—£87 million from private donors—surpasses that of major European parties, including Germany’s Christian Democratic Union. This positions Reform UK as a frontrunner in private political fundraising, eclipsing the contributions received by Britain’s Labour and Conservative parties. Reform officials argue that the donations level the playing field against long-established parties, enabling them to scale up their operations and prepare for government.
However, the party is currently involved in ongoing police and parliamentary investigations concerning its prior funding. These inquiries follow reports alleging improper conduct and controversial comments by party officials and candidates, though the party maintains that no electoral laws were violated. Reform has also faced negative media coverage in recent weeks, contributing to a drop in its polling position behind Labour and the Conservatives.
The scale of Reform’s donations has sparked debate over political financing rules in the UK. Labour has called for retrospective legislation that could limit or invalidate large donations, particularly those from donors who have spent time living abroad. Recent government proposals aim to cap donations from British donors living overseas to £100,000. Both Harborne and Delo have recently registered UK residency, but if retrospective changes are enacted, Reform officials have indicated they would legally challenge any moves to force a return of the funds.
Despite these uncertainties, Reform UK is proceeding with the deployment of the funds and the expansion of its media operations in an effort to recover its standing among voters. Towler described the situation as a complex and high-stakes “game of catcut up,” underscoring the tension between new political financing approaches and regulatory frameworks in British politics.