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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:
LuckyHazelFox · 15/09/2026 08:56

MelissaLovedMantari · 15/09/2026 08:54

I doubt Nige reads my musings on MN. He is more likely to hang out at that fruit farm place I reckon.🤣

No desperation from me. I find Reform's antics desperate and disgusting, though. Farage's latest video is a vile piece of hate stirring. He is utter trash.

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You call it hate stirring and peddling, I call it representing the frustrations of many. Whatever you think, it's not going to go away.

HotGrapefruit · 15/09/2026 08:55

People don't seem to understand that Reform will do whatever these billionaires want them to do. Total deregulation of the financial sector and the energy sector.

Your pensions are fucked if Reform get in. Our economy will be absolutely shot to pieces. We will be reliant on overseas oil and gas and plunged into blackouts as the (already tenuous) energy sector fails.

If you think this has anything to do with democracy, you are willfully blind.

MelissaLovedMantari · 15/09/2026 08:54

LuckyHazelFox · 15/09/2026 08:47

Vulgar donations. Gosh, this is all sounding very desperate but will please Farage. That and being underestimated. When will they ever learn?

I doubt Nige reads my musings on MN. He is more likely to hang out at that fruit farm place I reckon.🤣

No desperation from me. I find Reform's antics desperate and disgusting, though. Farage's latest video is a vile piece of hate stirring. He is utter trash.

LuckyHazelFox · 15/09/2026 08:50

Pineneedlesincarpet · 15/09/2026 08:50

They will have contributed more tax to this country than all of us put together.

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Certainly more than Labour voters.

Pineneedlesincarpet · 15/09/2026 08:50

MargoLivebetter · 15/09/2026 08:48

They may possibly be resident, that has yet to be evidenced. I wonder if they be back paying all the tax that they have chosen to avoid contributing to our country too?

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They will have contributed more tax to this country than all of us put together.

MargoLivebetter · 15/09/2026 08:48

Pineneedlesincarpet · 15/09/2026 08:45

They were resident though.

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They may possibly be resident, that has yet to be evidenced. I wonder if they be back paying all the tax that they have chosen to avoid contributing to our country too?

LuckyHazelFox · 15/09/2026 08:47

Vulgar donations. Gosh, this is all sounding very desperate but will please Farage. That and being underestimated. When will they ever learn?

MelissaLovedMantari · 15/09/2026 08:47

EasternStandard · 15/09/2026 08:38

Not anymore. They’re residents here.

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But since when? That is a key question that will need to be answered.

The very cynical part of me has wondered if this is a set up.

Reform recieves two unprecedented donations the weekend before TROTP Bill is due its third reading in the Lords. Reform knows that if the Bill passes, the donations might need to be handed back. Reform can then cry that it is being targeted by the establishment etc.

Pineneedlesincarpet · 15/09/2026 08:45

MargoLivebetter · 15/09/2026 08:19

How do huge sums coming from overseas promote UK democracy? These are people who don't want to pay tax in our country but think they should have a say in how its run!

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They were resident though.

LuckyHazelFox · 15/09/2026 08:43

MelissaLovedMantari · 15/09/2026 08:34

People find these donations vulgar and undemocratic I think. There is a lot of support for caps. This quck survey from YouGov showed that. It is an ongoing survey but this was how things stood yesterday:

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Does it say who the respondents represent?

MargoLivebetter · 15/09/2026 08:42

EasternStandard · 15/09/2026 08:38

Not anymore. They’re residents here.

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In April Ben Delo said that he was considering moving back to the UK. When did that happen? I understand that Harborne has also purportedly moved back but in June on official documents his address was still noted as overseas. So when did Harborne move back?

LuckyHazelFox · 15/09/2026 08:41

MargoLivebetter · 15/09/2026 08:35

Delo lives in Hong Kong and Harborne lives in Thailand.

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With plans to move to the UK.

EasternStandard · 15/09/2026 08:38

MargoLivebetter · 15/09/2026 08:35

Delo lives in Hong Kong and Harborne lives in Thailand.

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Not anymore. They’re residents here.

MargoLivebetter · 15/09/2026 08:35

LuckyHazelFox · 15/09/2026 08:32

Past tense. Lived overseas. I would have thought Labour had way more things to worry about but I guess running a country is harder than they thought. They never can seem to get it right, after years in opposition. As with their supporters, they don't like other parties getting a look in.

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Delo lives in Hong Kong and Harborne lives in Thailand.

myjamisbetterthanyours · 15/09/2026 08:34

BIossomtoes · 15/09/2026 08:02

It’s an interesting logic that believes the motivation of large donors is promoting democracy when their actions pervert it. I guess I should be happy about it because it’s likely to put off floating voters.

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Can you list three things each donor has done to ‘pervert democracy’, please?

MelissaLovedMantari · 15/09/2026 08:34

LuckyHazelFox · 15/09/2026 08:12

The donation is legitimate so I can hardly see how it's going to put off floating voters. Rayner's intervention, on the other hand, might influence floating voters. Anyone but her to kick start this and all that.

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People find these donations vulgar and undemocratic I think. There is a lot of support for caps. This quck survey from YouGov showed that. It is an ongoing survey but this was how things stood yesterday:

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?
LuckyHazelFox · 15/09/2026 08:33

MelissaLovedMantari · 15/09/2026 08:31

Reform will mot win the next GE I am afraid. Peddling hate only gets a party so far. I think their maximum core support has been reached. I suppose the £72m could buy them a lot more online shills, so there is that.

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There goes the Green party's chances then.

LuckyHazelFox · 15/09/2026 08:32

MargoLivebetter · 15/09/2026 08:19

How do huge sums coming from overseas promote UK democracy? These are people who don't want to pay tax in our country but think they should have a say in how its run!

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Past tense. Lived overseas. I would have thought Labour had way more things to worry about but I guess running a country is harder than they thought. They never can seem to get it right, after years in opposition. As with their supporters, they don't like other parties getting a look in.

MelissaLovedMantari · 15/09/2026 08:31

Greyrock79 · 15/09/2026 04:35

Pandora’s box has been opened, I’m afraid.

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Reform will mot win the next GE I am afraid. Peddling hate only gets a party so far. I think their maximum core support has been reached. I suppose the £72m could buy them a lot more online shills, so there is that.

BIossomtoes · 15/09/2026 08:24

Lots of things are legitimate that leave a bad taste in people’s mouths. Take you and unions for example @LuckyHazelFox.

MargoLivebetter · 15/09/2026 08:19

LuckyHazelFox · 15/09/2026 07:49

Maybe something called democracy.

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How do huge sums coming from overseas promote UK democracy? These are people who don't want to pay tax in our country but think they should have a say in how its run!

LuckyHazelFox · 15/09/2026 08:12

BIossomtoes · 15/09/2026 08:02

It’s an interesting logic that believes the motivation of large donors is promoting democracy when their actions pervert it. I guess I should be happy about it because it’s likely to put off floating voters.

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The donation is legitimate so I can hardly see how it's going to put off floating voters. Rayner's intervention, on the other hand, might influence floating voters. Anyone but her to kick start this and all that.

Pineneedlesincarpet · 15/09/2026 08:11

BIossomtoes · 15/09/2026 08:02

It’s an interesting logic that believes the motivation of large donors is promoting democracy when their actions pervert it. I guess I should be happy about it because it’s likely to put off floating voters.

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The actions of Labour trying to cap other parties' donations whilr preserving their own should definitely put off floating voters. You're right.

BIossomtoes · 15/09/2026 08:02

LuckyHazelFox · 15/09/2026 07:49

Maybe something called democracy.

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It’s an interesting logic that believes the motivation of large donors is promoting democracy when their actions pervert it. I guess I should be happy about it because it’s likely to put off floating voters.

LuckyHazelFox · 15/09/2026 07:49

MargoLivebetter · 14/09/2026 23:08

So Unions donate to Labour because they believe Labour will support the interests of their workers and businesses donate to the Tories because they believe that the Tories will support the interests of businesses. What interests do you think those big donors want Reform to support?

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Maybe something called democracy.