Panicked Labour bosses issued an emergency appeal to their members after Nigel Farage’s party was handed a record windfall (Image: Getty)
Labour has sent an “urgent request” to its members begging for donations after Nigel Farage’s Reform UK secured a staggering £72million financial mega-boost in less than 24 hours. In an urgent email to party members, Labour headquarters called on its grassroots base to chip in small-scale donations to counter the massive influx of capital into Reform UK’s bank accounts.
The record-breaking £72million fundraising total – stemming from two back-to-back £36million donations from tech entrepreneurs Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne – represents the largest 24-hour financial haul in British political history. In its message sent directly to members’ inboxes, Labour laid bare its alarm over the scale of Reform’s new bank balance. The party wrote: “This has never happened before in British politics […] This is a record-breaking financial backing – but for us it has to be a call to action.
“Think about what £72 million can mean in an election. More ads. More reach. More opportunities to put Farage’s divisive message in front of millions of people, again and again and again.
“We cannot let less than a handful of extraordinarily wealthy crypto-billionaires simply drown Labour’s messages out in elections to come,” the party added. “Reform dominating what voters see and hear, Labour fighting to be heard.
“That’s why we urgently need you with us today. Please donate £3, £5, or whatever you can afford to help Labour fight back.”
Labour raised roughly £10million to £18million per year in registered major donations (Image: Getty)
The begging letter sparked an immediate, fiery backlash across social media, with angry voters laying into Labour over the contrast between Government spending and their demands for public support.
One user wrote: “I’m no Reform fan, but this is just pure class. Labour [gives] the migrants everything at the taxpayer’s expense and then beg for donations from the British public. All the money they tax us and they want people to give them more!”
Another fumed over the perks enjoyed by sitting politicians: “Don’t forget [people], they get expenses, second homes, fuel and heating allowance, freebies, and that’s what we know about.”
A third said: “Labour is begging members for £3. They know they cannot catch up. The panic in that email says so.”
Farage said he was ‘honoured and humbled’ by the historic support (Image: Getty)
Before this week, the UK’s top political donation record was a £10million Tory bequest in 2022. By contrast, Labour’s record single donation is just £4 million – given by hedge fund foundation Quadrature Capital before the 2024 election. Long-time backer Lord David Sainsbury has also given Labour over £11.5million across his lifetime, including £2.5million for their 2024 campaign.
According to Electoral Commission records, Labour raised roughly £10million to £18million per year in registered major donations. To put Reform UK’s record total into perspective, that single windfall is nearly four times what Labour raised in major donations across an entire year.
The £72million was reached after investor Christopher Harborne matched an identical £36million pledge by BitMEX co-founder Ben Delo. Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Mr Harborne described the contribution as a “philanthropic gift”, expecting no peerage or policy changes in return, while Mr Delo said the cash would free the party to focus on policy and ground operations.
A jubilant Nigel Farage declared he was “honoured and humbled” by the historic support.
The Express contacted the Labour Party for comment, who highlighted party chair Bridget Phillipson’s response to Mr Harborne’s donation: “Farage can’t buy his way out of the sleaze and scandal he and Reform UK are drowning in – or the multiple police investigations that are ongoing into Reform’s dodgy finances.
“The serious questions Farage and Reform need to answer aren’t going away – in fact they’re just piling up.
“It’s time Farage and Reform came clean with the public, fully co-operated with the ongoing police investigations and prove they’re not just in it for themselves.”
Labour Turns to Members as Reform’s £72 Million Windfall Raises the Stakes
The Labour Party has responded to Reform UK’s extraordinary fundraising success by appealing directly to its members for financial support. An urgent fundraising email, sent after the two £36 million donations were announced in September, urged supporters to contribute what they could to help Labour remain competitive in future elections. <Cite refs={[“turn900209search1″,”turn900209search2”]}/>
The appeal was a reminder that political parties rely on different funding models. Reform’s sudden influx of money came from two exceptionally wealthy donors, while Labour traditionally draws on membership contributions and trade-union support alongside other permissible donations.
Labour’s message warned that a small number of billionaires could potentially dominate the political conversation if their donations enabled one party to spend far more on advertising, campaign staff and communications than its rivals.
The party’s concern was not limited to the immediate election campaign. Money can help fund research, recruit professional campaigners, develop local organisations and keep political messages in front of voters over an extended period. Reform’s donations could therefore influence how the party prepares for the next general election.
However, Labour’s appeal also demonstrated that fundraising remains an essential part of its own political strategy. The party is attempting to persuade members that even relatively small contributions can help it compete against a better-funded rival.
A Debate That Extends Beyond Labour and Reform
The £72 million donations have prompted calls from several political figures and campaign groups for changes to Britain’s political funding rules. Critics argue that very large individual contributions risk giving wealthy donors disproportionate influence over the political process.
Some have advocated a cap on individual donations. Others have called for tighter restrictions on contributions from people who have recently returned to Britain after living overseas, alongside stronger measures to prevent foreign interference.
The government has been considering changes through its wider electoral legislation. Ministers have argued that the rules need to protect the integrity of British democracy, although the details and legal implications of proposed restrictions have been disputed. <Cite refs={[“turn900209search4″,”turn900209search5”]}/>
Reform, meanwhile, has defended the donations and said they were made in accordance with the applicable rules. Deputy leader Richard Tice criticised the possibility of retrospective restrictions, arguing that changing the rules after the contributions had been made would be unfair. <Cite refs={[“turn900209search8”]}/>
These disagreements illustrate why political funding reform is complicated. Any new rules must consider the rights of eligible donors, the ability of parties to raise money and the need to prevent improper influence. They must also be designed and implemented consistently rather than as a measure aimed at one political organisation.
The outcome of this debate could affect the fundraising strategies of all major parties, not just Reform and Labour.
What Happens Next?
For Reform UK, the immediate task is to turn its financial advantage into a well-organised campaign. Farage has said the money will help the party recruit campaign managers and expand its research and policy operations. Yet the party will still need candidates, volunteers and a credible programme capable of attracting voters across different constituencies.
For Labour, the challenge is to maintain its own fundraising network while demonstrating that its policies address the issues voters consider most important. A successful fundraising appeal can provide additional resources, but it does not automatically resolve questions about public confidence, economic performance or political leadership.
The wider issue is whether Britain’s current political funding arrangements strike the right balance between allowing parties to raise the money they need and preventing excessive concentrations of financial influence.
The donations have made that question difficult to ignore. Labour’s appeal for support shows that Reform’s financial windfall has already prompted a response from its opponents, even though the ultimate political consequences remain uncertain.
Ultimately, the next election will involve far more than the amount of money each party raises. Voters will also judge the parties on their policies, candidates, leadership and record. Funding can help a party communicate its message, but it cannot guarantee that voters will agree with it.