- Downing Street has denied that proposed plans to tighten political donation laws are specifically aimed at blocking £72 million given to Reform UK by two offshore billionaires.
- Proposed legislation includes a £100,000 cap on overseas donations backdated to March, with ministers considering an enhanced residency test requiring donors to prove an ongoing UK presence.
- Despite questions being raised over whether Reform could have to repay the money, Nigel Farage claimed they are compliant with current laws and threatened to retaliate by banning trade union funding for Labour if his party's funding is blocked.
- Reform UK has already begun spending the funds to double its policy team, hire 400 field agents, and launch a new online YouTube channel.
- Liberal Democrat MPs and campaigners are calling for broader measures, including a general cap on all domestic political donations to prevent mega-donors over-influencing democracy.
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