New Donation Limits for Overseas Voters Moving to the UK
Overseas voters relocating to the UK would be restricted from making political donations exceeding £100,000 within their first year of arrival, according to new government proposals.
These measures were announced alongside plans for more stringent scrutiny of company donations, aimed at preventing foreign financial influence in UK elections.
The government had earlier introduced a £100,000 annual cap on donations from British citizens living abroad, effective from 25 March.
Now, the government intends to require individuals to reside in the UK for a minimum duration before they can donate amounts above this threshold. This adjustment could impact two of Reform UK's largest donors, who have contributed millions to Nigel Farage's party.
British billionaire Christopher Harborne, a businessman based in Thailand, made a single donation of £9 million to Reform last year, marking the largest single donation to a UK political party by a living individual.
Harborne, known for his investments in cryptocurrency and aviation, donated a total of £12 million to Reform in 2025, with an additional £3 million given in January.
The Times reported last month that Harborne has registered to vote in the UK, and in April he stated that the government's planned political finance crackdown would not deter him from supporting the party financially.
Electoral Commission data also indicates that Ben Delo, another cryptocurrency billionaire, donated £4 million to Reform between January and March.
Delo wrote in The Telegraph in April that he plans to return to the UK from Hong Kong to increase his contributions to Reform.
Under the proposed regulations, both Harborne and Delo would remain subject to the £100,000 donation cap for one year following their return to the UK.
Additional Changes to Political Donation Regulations
Ministers also announced that political donations from companies will be evaluated based on post-tax profits over the previous five years, rather than on revenue alone.
This change aims to ensure that only legitimate UK-linked businesses are eligible to make donations.
Furthermore, individuals seeking election will be required to verify that any funding received prior to becoming candidates originates from legitimate sources.
They must declare donations exceeding £2,230 received before officially becoming candidates.
The government stated that these proposals will be introduced as amendments to the Representation of the People Bill, which is scheduled to return to the House of Commons for further consideration on 14 July.
Government Statements and Context
Communities Secretary Steve Reed commented on the measures, emphasizing the government's commitment to protecting democracy:
"British democracy is not for sale. These tough new rules will shut down dodgy funding, stop foreign money influencing our elections and keep our democracy strong. By holding overseas donors to tougher standards and requiring candidates to prove where their funding comes from, we are taking world-leading action to protect the integrity of our elections and tackle the threats we face from abroad."
The changes form part of the government's response to a review of political funding led by former senior civil servant Philip Rycroft.
This review was commissioned last year in reaction to threats posed by foreign states attempting to interfere in British democracy.
In March, the government announced a ban on cryptocurrency donations to UK political parties, alongside the introduction of the £100,000 annual cap on donations from British citizens living abroad.
Reform UK's Response
Reform UK criticized the proposed changes, with the party's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf accusing Labour of "choking off legal funding for its main rival."
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