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2 private donations of £36m each to one political party - is this the future of democracy in a world at the mercy of tech bros?

285 replies

IwantToRetire · 13/09/2026 01:38

Not particularly interested in discussing Reform. As anyone who wants to do that could set up a thread just like there is one about the Greens.

Of course the money could just be frittered away, but do these donations create an imbalance in terms of other parties having a voice, not just now, but when there is the next General Election.

For info (and there may be others) short bios about each man who has donated. Although, if as stated, they don't expect to decide party policy, maybe their personal history doesn't matter.

https://news.sky.com/story/ben-delo-and-christopher-harborne-who-are-reform-uks-two-mega-donors-13584792

Edited to add: I would ask this question if such donations had been made to any other Party, whether Labour, Tory, Greens etc..

OP posts:
dwordle · 13/09/2026 11:28

For them maybe. Maybe they should donate 32 million into cancer research rather than funding pet projects.

The thing that gets me is that the debate how we fund political parties has been going on since I was old enough to vote. We can't agree on this and it remains a unsolved to this day. How do we get a political system that represents the needs of the voters rather than those with deep pockets. How do we stop these donations influencing policy.

TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 13/09/2026 11:17

dwordle · 13/09/2026 11:13

Makes me laugh, these billionaires moan about tax yet 32 million is like pocket change. Rather than do some good with it they make political donations.

As far as they're concerned they are doing something good with it.

dwordle · 13/09/2026 11:13

Makes me laugh, these billionaires moan about tax yet 32 million is like pocket change. Rather than do some good with it they make political donations.

dwordle · 13/09/2026 10:28

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MarcTheGenderSkeptic · 13/09/2026 09:01

IwantToRetire · 13/09/2026 01:38

Not particularly interested in discussing Reform. As anyone who wants to do that could set up a thread just like there is one about the Greens.

Of course the money could just be frittered away, but do these donations create an imbalance in terms of other parties having a voice, not just now, but when there is the next General Election.

For info (and there may be others) short bios about each man who has donated. Although, if as stated, they don't expect to decide party policy, maybe their personal history doesn't matter.

https://news.sky.com/story/ben-delo-and-christopher-harborne-who-are-reform-uks-two-mega-donors-13584792

Edited to add: I would ask this question if such donations had been made to any other Party, whether Labour, Tory, Greens etc..

If Dale Vince the mega rich eco guy wants to give The Greens £36m, why shouldn't he?

TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 13/09/2026 07:41

I'm starting to think we never had a democracy in the first place, it all seems to be about 'the parties' who are brought and paid for by anyone who has enough power or influence to lobby the political classes into whatever direction they want.
The Tories are paid for by big business, Labour are paid for by the Unions, I don't think the people come into the equation at all.

AwfulButTrue · 13/09/2026 06:55

Why is this in 'sex and gender'?

JohnofWessex · 13/09/2026 06:54

Politics is being bought by big money and it certainly applies to Reform/Labour/Conservatives.

Its very bad news for democracy

BunnyBunbunbun · 13/09/2026 06:48

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NOTANUM · 13/09/2026 05:53

The gradual erosion of what counts as acceptable is the threat to democracy, not the source of the funds. It could have been a hedge fund donor with the same outcome.

Kier Starmer faced criticism for accepting Arsenal director box tickets even though he paid for his own season ticket. Yet Farage gets to pocket £5m for “security” and it bounces off him. There’s no doubt the newspapers drive this dichotomy.

But it’s not just politics- even shoplifting and middle class theft like wearing clothes with the tags inside before returning are on the rise. We are just becoming more individualistic.