UK tightens grip on foreign donations in wake of “dodgy funding” scandals

Neena Mae Rayos, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
July 7, 2026

(Photo Courtesy: Steve Reed | Facebook)

UNITED KINGDOM – Britain is tightening their grip on foreign political donations, introducing stricter rules aimed at shielding its elections from overseas interference and “dodgy funding.”

The move follows a government review that uncovered persistent attempts by nations like Russia, China, and Iran to undermine British democracy, a concern highlighted by the recent jailing of a former Reform UK politician for accepting bribes to deliver pro-Russia statements.

Under the new regulations, candidates must now declare any donations exceeding £2,230 received before they officially ran for office and provide proof of legitimate sources for that pre-candidacy cash.

“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,” British Housing Secretary Steve Reed said.

Additionally, individuals relocating to the UK must reside there permanently for a year before making large donations over £100,000, and corporate contributions will be scrutinized based on past post-tax profits rather than revenue to ensure only genuine UK businesses can give.

The timing of these changes coincides with a high-profile investigation into Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who is being probed by the parliamentary standards watchdog over a £5 million donation from a Thailand-based cryptocurrency billionaire that he allegedly failed to declare.

Reform UK maintains that no rules were broken regarding the large sum from crypto investor Christopher Harborne, who funded roughly two-thirds of the party’s budget last year.

The new framework builds on earlier March restrictions that capped overseas British donations at £100,000 annually and imposed a temporary ban on cryptocurrency contributions until a robust regulatory system can be established.