Ex-Tory donor Christopher Harborne hands Reform UK record-busting £9million in huge boost to Nigel Farage

The sum is also the biggest single donation made by a living donor to a UK political party.

Mr Harborne, who is a highly-regarded aviation entrepreneur and founder of AML Global, had spent almost two decades donating to the Conservative Party.

He handed over £1.8million between 2003 and 2022, giving Boris Johnson £1million after the ex-Prime Minister left No10.

However, the Cambridge graduate temporarily switched his support to the Brexit Party in 2019 and continued to support the right-wing party in 2020.

Mr Harborne's latest cash injection takes Reform UK's overall donations up to £10.3million in the third quarter of 2025.

Reform UK's treasurer Nick Candy coughed up an additional £500,000, with investor William Alan McIntosh putting in £100,000.

Meanwhile, the Tory Party managed to rake in £4.5million in the third quarter of the year.

Labour's donations over the same period stood at just £1.9million, with Sir Keir Starmer relying heavily on Unite and GMB.

While no other living donor has managed to match the size of Mr Harborne’s latest gift, Lord John Sainsbury left the Tories £10million in his will in 2022.

Reform UK's fundraising blitz comes as polls continue to fuel momentum for Mr Farage ahead of the next general election.

Mr Farage received just £4.2million when he was preparing for the 2019 General Election as leader of the Brexit Party.

In comparison, Mr Johnson's Tories amassed a campaign war chest of £19.3million.

However, Sir Keir narrowed the gap significantly in 2024, ultimately raising more money than the Tories before winning a landslide victory.