British Entrepreneur Donates £9M to Reform UK, Sets Record

A British entrepreneur and cryptocurrency investor has donated £9 million to Reform UK, marking the largest single political contribution from a living individual in the country's history, according to filings released by the Electoral Commission on Thursday.

The donation, made on August 1 by Christopher Harborne, a Thailand-based businessman in his early 60s, propelled Reform UK to the top of third-quarter fundraising among major British parties. The party reported total donations of just over £10.5 million between July and September, surpassing the Conservative Party's nearly £7 million, Labour's £2.56 million, the Liberal Democrats' £2.07 million, and the Green Party's £344,300. Officials with the Electoral Commission confirmed the figures as part of routine quarterly disclosures.

Harborne, who holds British nationality alongside Thai citizenship under the name Chakrit Sakunkrit, built his fortune through aviation and technology ventures. He founded and leads companies including AML Global and Sherriff Group, which handle aircraft maintenance, fuel supply, and private jet operations. He also holds stakes in defense technology firm QinetiQ, which derives about 80 percent of...