# Far Right Funding in the UK # Far Right Funding in the UK > Last updated: 7 June 2026 ## Overview More than **£170 million** was funnelled into the UK's populist-right ecosystem between 2021 and 2026, funding MPs, political parties, media organisations, and thinktanks. Reform UK alone received **£9 million in Q1 2026** - more than any other party - with the majority coming from cryptocurrency billionaires. The scale and opacity of this funding network has triggered parliamentary investigations and a government review. --- ## Key Figures ### Christopher Harborne - British-Thai crypto billionaire, based in Thailand. - **Largest single donor in UK political history**: £9m to Reform UK in 2025, £3m in March 2026. - Gave Nigel Farage a **£5 million "personal gift"** in June 2024, weeks before Farage's U-turn to stand for Parliament. Now under investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. - If found guilty of failing to declare, Farage could face suspension from the Commons and a potential by-election. - Harborne previously donated to the Conservative Party and was a major donor to the Brexit Party. - Sued the Wall Street Journal over reporting on his cryptocurrency activities. ### Ben Delo - Co-founder of **BitMEX** (crypto trading platform), UK's youngest self-made billionaire (2018). - Major Reform UK donor. Moving back to the UK from Hong Kong to avoid the new cap on overseas political donations. - Has suggested he could challenge the cap in court. ### Nigel Farage - Reform UK leader. Under formal parliamentary investigation over the undeclared £5m Harborne gift. - Personally accepted **£675,000 from foreign sources** (DeSmog investigation, April 2026), including a trip to Abu Dhabi paid for by the UAE. - Reform UK has "supercharged" the scale of donor dependence, with **75% of donations coming from just three rich men**. ### Richard Tice - Reform UK deputy leader. Defended the Harborne gift, claiming voters already knew about it and still voted Reform in the May 2026 local elections. ### Tommy Robinson (Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) - UK's most prominent far-right influencer. - Funded by **US tech billionaire Robert Shillman** via a "Shillman Fellowship" at Rebel Media (~£85,000 in 2017), which transformed him from street agitator to slick social media operator. - Claimed to have raised **$300,000 (£225,000)** from two US conservative donors on a recent US trip. - Received almost **£425,000** in crowd-sourced donations from supporters in just two months. - US funding paid for his rebranding, including new teeth and professional video production. ### Sir Paul Marshall - Hedge fund billionaire (Marshall Wace Asset Management). - Owns **GB News, The Spectator, and UnHerd** - a right-wing media empire reaching millions. - Called for the BBC to be "broken up" and its fact-checking service (BBC Verify) "shut down" at a Pharos Foundation event (May 2025). - Named by the New Statesman as one of the most powerful right-wing figures in the UK (2023). - Donated £145.1m to charity in 12 months (2024), including £50m to LSE. --- ## The £170m Populist-Right Complex Research (published March 2026 by Liam Byrne, reported by the Guardian) found that over five years: - **£170m+** was given to MPs, political parties, media organisations, and thinktanks aligned with the UK's populist right. - A handful of billionaires pumped the money into an interconnected ecosystem spanning political figures, news media, and policy institutes. - The network operates as a "media-political complex" - donors fund both the politicians and the outlets that amplify their message. --- ## Reform UK Funding Snapshot | Period | Amount | Key Source | |--------|--------|-----------| | Q1 2026 | £9m+ | Christopher Harborne, Ben Delo (crypto billionaires) | | 2025 | £9m | Christopher Harborne | | March 2026 | £3m | Christopher Harborne | | Farage personal gift | £5m | Christopher Harborne (undeclared, under investigation) | Reform UK received **almost £10 million** in private donations in Q1 2026 alone, surpassing the Conservatives (£6m+) and Labour (£4m+). --- ## Government Response - **Rycroft Review**: Independent review into countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics. Found that current rules for corporate donations require only a "weak link" to UK activity. - **Labour's clampdown**: Capped the amount foreign-based donors can give to political parties. Harborne and Delo are circumventing this by considering UK relocation or legal challenges. - Loophole still allows donations (including from foreign actors) to fund campaign spending of non-registered non-party campaigners (those spending below £10,000). --- ## Think Tanks & Dark Money (Tufton Street & Beyond) ### Tufton Street Network A cluster of right-wing think tanks at 55 Tufton Street, London, operating as "dark money" organisations that refuse to reveal funders: - **Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)** - free-market think tank, registered as a charity. Received £400,000 from the US wing of the National Philanthropic Trust. - **Policy Exchange** - received £900,000+ from the National Philanthropic Trust (US arm). Close access to Conservative ministers. - **Centre for Policy Studies (CPS)** - Thatcherite think tank, part of the Tufton Street cluster. - **Adam Smith Institute** - 23% of income from US donors. - **TaxPayers' Alliance** - part of the US-funded network. **Combined US funding**: Tufton Street think tanks raised **$9 million from American donors since 2012**, with at least **$6 million channelled to the UK** (11% of total UK receipts). US donors include oil companies and top climate denial funders. Between them, these think tanks have secured **100+ meetings with ministers** and placed **12+ former staff as special advisers** in government. ### Prosperity Institute (formerly Legatum Institute) - Founded 2007, based in London. - Principally funded by the **Legatum Foundation**, philanthropic arm of the **Dubai-based Legatum Group** (founded by New Zealand businessman **Christopher Chandler**). - Donated **£60,000** to the right-wing **New Conservatives** parliamentary group (led by Danny Kruger MP). - Fuelled by offshore funds. - GB News shareholders include Paul Marshall and the Dubai-based Legatum Institute. ### National Philanthropic Trust (US) - A secretive US "trust" that has given **£1.5 million+** to UK Conservative think tanks over five years. - Also bankrolled Trump's Heritage Foundation ("Trump's think tank") with over $1 million. - Funds climate denial groups and far-right "election disinformation" in the US. - Openly advertises its ability to conceal the identity of wealthy donors. ### Atlas Network - Global association of libertarian, free-market, and ultra-conservative think tanks. - Funded by billionaires including the Koch brothers. - Influenced Milei's radical austerity platform in Argentina. - UK partners include Tufton Street think tanks. - Invests **$10 million+ annually** in projects advancing "the cause of liberty" worldwide. ### Prosperity Institute - Donated **£60,000** to the right-wing **New Conservatives** parliamentary group (led by Danny Kruger MP). - Fuelled by offshore funds. --- ## Free Speech Front Groups ### Free Speech Union (FSU) - Founded 2020 by **Toby Young**. - Funded by **US anti-abortion groups**, Brexit politicians, and Tufton Street insiders. - Received almost **$100,000 in 2021** from US sources. - Linked to the **Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF)** - a US anti-abortion legal group. - **ADF International** spending in UK: **£1.5 million per year** on legal campaigns against abortion and LGBT rights. - Connected to the Atlas Network via the IPA. ### Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) - American conservative Christian legal advocacy group. - Operates internationally as **ADF International**. - UK spending: **£1.5 million/year** on legal campaigns. - Campaigns against abortion rights, LGBT rights, and transgender healthcare. - Democracy for Sale investigation found ADF funding flowing to Toby Young's Free Speech Union. ### Turning Point UK - Launched December 2018 by **Charlie Kirk** (Turning Point USA founder) and **Candace Owens**. - TPUSA raised **$389 million** from founding (2012) through mid-2023. - Annual contributions soared from $79,000 in year one to **$80 million** a decade later. - First contribution: $10,000 from fund manager **Foster Friess** after Kirk met him at the 2012 RNC. - TPUSA donors and allies recommitted after Kirk's death (September 2025). --- ## Jeremy Hosking - Third member of the Reform UK "big three" donors alongside Harborne and Tice. - Together, Harborne, Hosking, and Tice have provided **£23 million of the £30 million** donated to Reform since 2019. - **75% of all Reform donations** come from these three men. --- ## GB News & Paul Marshall's Media Empire - **Paul Marshall invested a further £41m** into GB News following sharp losses. - GB News pre-tax losses: **£42.4m** (2022/23), up from £30.8m the prior year. - Bought **The Spectator** for £100m (2024), also owns **UnHerd**. - Marshall Wace hedge fund profits plunged **64%**: from £538m to £192m. - Named by the New Statesman as one of the most powerful right-wing figures in the UK (2023). - Left the Liberal Democrats in 2015 over Brexit, subsequently donated to the Brexit campaign and Conservatives. --- ## Fossil Fuel Connections - Reform UK received **£2.3 million** in donations from fossil fuel interests, climate deniers, and polluters (Green Party analysis). - US climate deniers pump millions into Tory-linked think tanks (openDemocracy investigation). - Tufton Street think tanks host 40+ events at Conservative Party conferences. --- ## US-UK Far Right Pipeline ### Direct US Funding to UK Far-Right Figures - **Robert Shillman** (US tech billionaire) funded Tommy Robinson's Shillman Fellowship at **Rebel Media** (~£85,000/year in 2017) -- the seed money that transformed Robinson from street agitator to slick media operator (see Key Figures above). Shillman also funds anti-Islam figures across Europe and has pulled $2m pledges from TPUSA. - **Andy Miller** (former Apple executive, Nashville, now owns an NBA team) -- gave **$200,000** to Robinson's "Unite the Kingdom" rally in London, May 2026 (see Welsh section for detail). - **Elon Musk** agreed to pay legal fees for jailed Tommy Robinson (Politico Europe). Musk has amplified far-right voices in the UK on X, including Robinson and Reform UK figures. - **Nigel Farage** has become one of the most amplified political figures on X since Musk's takeover. - **Farage's Cameo earnings**: **£222,000** from the US celebrity video platform since becoming an MP. ### Canada Pipeline (US money, Canadian platform, UK impact) - **Rebel Media / Rebel News** (Canadian far-right media outlet) hosted the Shillman Fellowship that employed Tommy Robinson. - The pipeline works as: US money (Shillman) -> Canadian platform (Rebel Media) -> UK far-right influencer (Robinson) -> UK streets. - Pattern repeated with other UK far-right figures given platforms on Canadian/US media. ### US State Department & Diplomatic Support - Tommy Robinson visited the **US State Department**, welcomed by officials including Joe Rittenhouse (senior adviser, Consular Affairs). - Robinson met far-right US influencer **Jack Posobiec** and filmed with Congressman **Randy Fine** (R-Florida, anti-Muslim rhetoric). - **US State Department "free speech" fund**: Reports (February 2026) suggest the US is planning to fund MAGA-aligned think tanks, charities, and political movements in Europe, including the UK. - A US State Department official travelled to Europe in December 2025 and spoke with figures in Nigel Farage's party. - Trump administration has surged support for far-right activists in UK/Europe under "free speech" pretext. ### MAGA/Trump Donor Pipeline to Reform UK - Reform UK drawing up plans to **tap Trump/MAGA donors** to fund Farage's push for PM (Ekō campaign). - The party is actively courting US billionaires, with plans for a **£40 million war chest**. - Leverages Farage's personal connections with Trump's inner circle and Mar-a-Lago access. - US-style political fundraising tactics being imported to UK (crypto donations, crowdfunding, dark money vehicles). --- ## Grassroots & Digital Funding (Crowdfunding & Crypto) ### GiveSendGo & US Crowdfunding Platforms - **GiveSendGo** -- US-based "Christian crowdfunding" site, self-styled "#1 Free Christian Crowdfunding Site." - **ADL report**: Extremists raised at least **$6.2 million** (2016-2022) via 10 crowdfunding platforms. GiveSendGo/Stripe facilitated **$5.4 million** to extremist causes (86.5% of total). - Used by UK far-right groups to raise money for **imprisoned white supremacists** in Scotland (The Ferret, 2025). - GiveSendGo hosts campaigns for **Patriotic Alternative, Homeland Party**, and Tommy Robinson-associated fundraising. - January 6 defendants, Proud Boys, and Unite the Right ralliers all crowdfunded through these platforms. - ADL found that crowdfunded extremists diversify across platforms to avoid deplatforming. ### Cryptocurrency Donations - **Reform UK** became the first British political party to accept donations in cryptocurrency -- a policy that enabled **Christopher Harborne's £15m+ in Tether** (see Russia section). - **Tommy Robinson** uses QR codes at rallies, mailing list promotions, and crypto appeals to bypass traditional banking and Electoral Commission scrutiny. - **Homeland Party** also accepts cryptocurrency donations. - Crypto donations are **near-impossible to trace** to source, making them ideal for foreign donors trying to circumvent the £100k cap. - **136 Reform UK candidates** used anonymous crowdfunding platforms allowing donors to keep their address secret and donate from abroad (Byline Times, July 2024). ### The New Funding Model - Street-level far right is shifting from traditional membership fees (BNP/NF model) to **online crowdfunding + crypto + merch sales**. - Tommy Robinson raised **£425,000 in two months** from crowd-sourced donations. - The model allows anyone with a reactionary view to build a global fanbase, ask for donations, and convert money into slick media operations. - Bypasses Electoral Commission oversight, traditional banking restrictions, and transparency rules. - Creates a direct pipeline from international supporters (including US, Gulf, and diaspora donors) to UK street activism. --- ## Offshore Tax Haven Donations ### The £15m Offshore Pipeline (Mirror/Babelfish Investigation, May 2026) - Analysis of Electoral Commission records found **80% of Reform UK's £18.6m in 2025 donations** -- almost **£15 million** -- came from just **18 donors connected to offshore tax havens**. - **5 Reform donors** responsible for **£12.55 million (67%)** provided **overseas addresses** to Companies House (Babelfish investigation). - Jurisdictions used: **Jersey, Isle of Man, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda** -- all British Overseas Territories or Crown Dependencies with minimal transparency. - Specific donors channelled through offshore structures: - **JC Bamford Excavators Ltd** -- linked to the Bamford family, whose business empire has historically used **Bermudan trusts**. - **Lady Rothermere** -- £50,000 donation; Daily Mail group ultimately controlled through a **Jersey-based structure**. - Multiple UK-registered companies ultimately owned through **Jersey, Isle of Man, and BVI** -- combined £300,000. - **Christopher Harborne** -- £12m from Thailand (already covered in Russia section). - **Bassim Haidar** -- uses One Hyde Park address (see Gulf section). - Transparency International UK stated Harborne donated £3m to Reform in 2025 on top of the record £9m, totalling £12m. - The offshore architecture allows foreign money to enter UK politics while appearing technically compliant with donation rules. - **80% offshore funding** makes Reform UK the most externally-dependent major party in British history. ### How the Offshore Architecture Works - UK ban on foreign donations is circumvented by donors using **UK-registered companies ultimately owned through offshore trusts**. - **Non-dom status** allows wealthy foreign donors to live in the UK while their wealth remains offshore, avoiding UK tax and disclosure. - The £100,000 cap on overseas donations (March 2026) is being circumvented by: - Donors **relocating to the UK** (Ben Delo moving from Hong Kong) - **Legal challenges** to the cap (Harborne) - Using **UK property addresses** like One Hyde Park as a "UK base" while wealth remains offshore - **Crown Dependencies** (Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man) and **British Overseas Territories** (BVI, Cayman, Bermuda) are not subject to UK transparency laws, creating a legal blind spot. ### Kazakhstan Connection - **Sasan Ghandehari** (Iranian-Kazakh billionaire) -- his $10bn family trust **HP Trust** paid for Farage's Davos 2026 trip, described as the "family office of Sasan Ghandehari" (Guardian, Jan 2026). - His fortune derives from his late mother **Hourieh Peramaa**, described as a **Kazakh-born Iranian investor** who made billions through property (Guardian, Feb 2026). - Ghandehari is also a client of **John Simpson's IAL Ltd** (see Iran section), the company that donated £200k to Reform UK. - Court battle over Picasso art exposed the offshore finances behind the Ghandehari trust (Guardian, Feb 2026). - Demonstrates the **Kazakh-Iranian-UK pipeline** of wealth into Farage's operation. --- ## Priti Patel & Heritage Foundation - Shadow Foreign Secretary **Priti Patel** has ties to the Heritage Foundation, the ultra-conservative group that authored **Project 2025** (Trump's second-term blueprint). - DeSmog investigation (November 2024) detailed the connections. - **Multiple UK Conservative MPs and peers** have given speeches at Heritage Foundation events. - Heritage Foundation has links to UK right-wing think tanks (Tufton Street network). - The Guardian revealed (July 2024) that Heritage has hosted speeches by Tory MPs and peers. - Project 2025's authoritarian vision has parallels with Reform UK's stated policies. --- ## Homeland Party - Far-right party launched November 2024. - Now accepting **cryptocurrency donations**, following Reform UK's lead. - HOPE not Hate investigation revealed neo-Nazi connections among founders. - Searchlight Magazine exposed links to far-right extremist networks. - Calls growing for Labour to use its Elections Bill to secure UK politics from crypto and foreign money. - Represents the further-right fringe that benefits from Reform UK's mainstreaming of anti-immigration rhetoric. --- ## UKIP (UK Independence Party) - Collapse - UKIP's donations have **collapsed** since peak in 2015. - 2025 donations: just **£50,000** (down from millions). - Reform UK has effectively replaced UKIP as the main right-wing populist party. - Arron Banks (former UKIP mega-donor) now supports Reform UK. - UKIP's decline mirrors the rise of Reform UK and the shift of far-right funding to Farage's operation. --- ## New Conservatives (Tory Right-Wing Faction) - Group of right-wing Conservative MPs led by **Danny Kruger**. - **Suella Braverman** associated with the group. - Received **£60,000** from the **Prosperity Institute** (offshore-funded think tank). - Pushing for more radical Conservative policies on immigration, culture war issues. - Represents the overlap between mainstream Conservative politics and the far-right ecosystem. - Tufton Street think tanks have significant influence on New Conservatives policy positions. --- ## Tufton Street Think Tanks in Government - At least **12 former staff** from Tufton Street think tanks have joined government as **special advisers**. - Think tanks secured **100+ meetings with ministers** since 2019. - **Boris Johnson's government** heavily influenced by Tufton Street (IEA, CPS, Policy Exchange). - **Liz Truss's economic plans** (2022) directly shaped by Tufton Street think tank ideology. - Think tank alumni placed in key policy roles across Conservative governments. - The revolving door between think tanks and government creates policy capture. --- ## Reform UK Local Elections 2026 - **May 2026 local elections**: Reform UK won control of **10 councils** and over **600 seats**. - Biggest local election gains for a right-wing party since the 1980s. - Farage claimed mandate for general election. - The **£9 million Q1 2026 war chest** (Harborne, Delo donations) directly fuelled the campaign. - Demonstrates the tangible impact of mega-donor funding on electoral success. - Reform UK now controls local government in multiple areas, implementing far-right policies at council level. --- ## GB News Ofcom Breaches (Full Context) - **Fined £100,000** by Ofcom (first ever financial sanction, 2025). - **Found in breach 12 times**, with 19 investigations opened since launch. - **7 investigations still ongoing**. - Breaches include: - Due impartiality violations (politician-presenters giving partisan commentary in news slots). - Failure to distinguish between news and opinion. - Misleading content on immigration and asylum. - Anti-trans and anti-"woke" segments presented as news. - Good Law Project maintains a full dossier of breaches. - Ofcom's powers limited - can fine but cannot revoke broadcast license easily. - Critics argue Ofcom is too slow to act and GB News treats fines as "cost of doing business." --- ## Key Figures (continued) | Figure | Role | Connection | |--------|------|------------| | Jeremy Hosking | Reform mega-donor | £23m combined with Harborne & Tice | | Toby Young | FSU founder | US anti-abortion funding, Atlas Network links | | Charlie Kirk | Turning Point USA/UK founder | $389m raised, died Sept 2025 | | Danny Kruger MP | New Conservatives group | £60k from Prosperity Institute (offshore funds) | | Jack Posobiec | US far-right influencer | Met Tommy Robinson at State Dept | | Elon Musk | Tech billionaire | Funded Robinson's legal fees | --- ## Arron Banks & Leave.EU Legacy - **Arron Banks** donated **£8.4 million** to Leave.EU during the 2016 EU referendum, making him the biggest donor in British political history at the time. - Investigated by the **National Crime Agency (NCA)** over suspected electoral fraud, money laundering, and criminal offences during the referendum campaign. - NCA investigation closed in 2019 without charges, but Banks and Leave.EU were fined **£20,000** for multiple breaches of electoral law. - **Electoral Commission launched fresh investigation** in November 2024 over suspected breaches of campaign finance rules during the 2016 referendum. - Banks has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and called investigations "politically motivated". - Banks was a major donor to UKIP and has close ties to Nigel Farage. --- ## Russia Connections ### Christopher Harborne - Tether & Russian Sanctions Evasion - Reform UK's biggest donor (Christopher Harborne, £15m+) is a major shareholder in **Tether**, the world's largest cryptocurrency stablecoin. - **NCA investigation (November 2025)**: The National Crime Agency revealed Tether had been used to facilitate a money-laundering network enabling **sanctions evasion and organised crime directly aiding Russia's war effort in Ukraine**. - NCA seized **£25 million** and made **128 arrests** in connection with the cash-for-crypto network. - The **US Treasury sanctioned Russian bosses** of the laundering networks and publicly warned they were using Tether -- the same month Farage accepted £28,000 from Harborne to attend Trump's inauguration. - **The Guardian** (Nov 2025): "Cryptocurrency backed by Farage donor is used for Russian war effort". - **Byline Times** (Dec 2025): Harborne profits from a **pro-Kremlin propaganda platform** while holding a UK Ministry of Defence stake. - Reform UK refused to comment on the revelations. No suggestion of Harborne's personal involvement, but his fortune is intrinsically linked to Tether -- which is in high demand from sanctions-evasion networks. - Reform UK was the **first British political party to accept donations in cryptocurrency**. ### Nick Candy, One Hyde Park & Russian Oligarchs - **Nick Candy** -- Reform UK Treasurer, chief fundraiser, and major donor. - Candy was the development agent for **One Hyde Park**, Britain's most expensive apartment block, built by the Candy brothers. - **Byline Times** (May 2026): Candy and three other Reform donors (actress **Holly Valance**, businessman **Bassim Haidar**, Sotheby's International Realty) have donated **£1.55 million** from One Hyde Park addresses. - One Hyde Park houses **at least five sanctioned or Russian-connected billionaires**. Nearly 80% of original buyers purchased through offshore vehicles (BVI, Liechtenstein, Isle of Man). - In 2022, Candy stated he had made an offer to buy **Chelsea FC from sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich**. - Candy transferred his One Hyde Park penthouse to Guernsey-registered companies for £160m in a move that raised tax avoidance questions. - Candy's start-up fund lost **£100m over a decade** (Cash Insight). - Candy has emails referenced in the **Epstein files** (Left Foot Forward, Feb 2026). ### Nathan Gill - Reform UK Wales Leader Jailed - **Nathan Gill**, former leader of Reform UK Wales (March-May 2021), was **sentenced to 10.5 years in prison** in November 2025. - Admitted taking **£40,000 in bribes** to make pro-Russian speeches in the European Parliament. - Paid to promote the interests of a Putin ally. - The most significant proven case of Russian financial influence on a UK far-right politician. - Gill was a former UKIP MEP before joining Reform UK. ### James Orr - Farage's Senior Advisor & Orban-Backed Russian Oil Network - **James Orr** (Professor), appointed October 2025 as **Nigel Farage's senior advisor**, in charge of developing policy for a future Reform UK government. - Orr sits on the board of the **Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation (RSFL)** -- financed by a **pro-Kremlin Hungarian state-funded body** tied to **Russian oil profits** (Byline Times, Feb 2026). - RSFL is part of a network funded by **Viktor Orban's government**, which refines Russian oil and has been described as Putin's "megaphone" in Europe. - **Good Law Project** (2026): Investigation found the Orban-funded network uses profits from Russian oil to **platform far-right and anti-trans campaigners in UK universities**. - **DeSmog** (Apr 2026): Orr helped launch the **Centre for a Better Britain**, a think tank seeking to raise **£25 million by 2029** from UK and US sources including tech investors and pro-Trump donors, to support Reform UK policy development. |- Orr accused the UK of a "naive and dangerous" approach to Russia's invasion of Ukraine at an event organised by an oil-funded think tank (DeSmog). |- **Michael Gove** serves alongside Orr as a director of RSFL. |- **Good Law Project** (2026): "Orban's pay cheques: Reform candidate fuelled by profits from Russian oil." #### Peter Thiel & Silicon Valley Connection - **Peter Thiel** (Palantir co-founder, $23.9bn net worth) is directly connected to the RSFL/Orban network through James Orr. - Orr hosted Thiel at Cambridge for a series of closed-door **"Antichrist Lectures"** (Varsity, 2026), in which Thiel speculated that Greta Thunberg may be the Antichrist. - Thiel previously spoke at RSLF Oxford events, where he compared equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives to the Chinese Communist Party (Varsity, 2023). - **Jordan Peterson** received a **$50,000 cash prize** and silver medal from the RSLF (2024). - Thiel is described as being "part of a network backed by the billionaire" at Cambridge (The Nerve), linking US tech billionaire money directly to the Orban-backed influence operation feeding into Reform UK policy. - Represents the convergence of **US tech oligarch money, Hungarian authoritarian funding, and UK far-right politics** through the RSFL network. ### Reform-Orban Network (DeSmog Mapping) - **DeSmog** (Apr 2026) published a detailed map of connections between Hungary's autocratic Orban government and Reform UK. - Farage has repeatedly praised Orban as "the strongest leader in Europe" and "the EU's biggest nightmare." - Reform UK's head of policy James Orr described Orban's regime as a "counterexample" to UK politics at a Hungarian political festival (Aug 2025). - The network spans state-backed think tanks, media outlets, and conferences promoting "illiberal democracy." - Farage and Orban's alliance represents a **direct pipeline from Russian oil profits into UK far-right politics**, via Hungary's refining and re-export of Russian crude. ### Reform UK Candidate & Sanctioned Bosnian Serb Leadership - **Byline Times** (Apr 2026): A Reform UK candidate runs a public affairs consultancy hired to handle UK media and communications for the **leadership of Republika Srpska** -- the pro-Putin Bosnian Serb entity. - **Milorad Dodik**, the entity's former president, has been **sanctioned by Britain**. - The candidate's firm was paid to represent a sanctioned pro-Russian leadership in the UK. ### Broader Russia Links - Russian state media (RT, Sputnik) has consistently amplified Tommy Robinson, Nigel Farage, and Reform UK messaging. - Farage has called Putin a "strong leader" and previously opposed sanctions on Russia. - Reform UK says it supports Ukraine but has been consistently vague on military aid levels. - Richard Tice (Reform deputy leader) has met with Russian officials. - **Arron Banks** (Leave.EU) had multiple undisclosed meetings with Russian embassy officials and was offered business opportunities in Russia before the Brexit referendum. Denied wrongdoing. - Far-right parties across Europe echo Russian talking points on Ukraine, NATO, and "traditional values." --- ## Iran Connections ### John Simpson / Orico General Trading -- Reform Donor Linked to Sanctioned Iranian Conglomerate - **John Richard Simpson** is the registered manager and shareholder of Dubai-based **Orico General Trading LLC**. - **French court ruling** (Mar 2026) directly connected Orico to **Astan Quds Razavi (AQR)**, a sanctioned Iranian conglomerate with close ties to Iran's regime and Supreme Leader. French legal documents described Orico as a "subsidiary" of Iranian company Omran Razavi International Co, which is majority-owned by AQR. - AQR was sanctioned by the **US Treasury in 2021** for controlling "large swaths of the Iranian economy" and links to Ayatollah Khamenei. - Between 2012-2013, Orico entered into agreements worth **€145 million** connected to Iran's state telecommunications company and **$186 million** to modernise Iran's fibre optic network (ICC arbitration records). - Simpson is listed as the person with significant control of **Interior Architecture Landscape Limited (IAL Ltd)**, which donated **£200,000 to Reform UK** in 2025. - IAL's clients include **Iranian billionaire Sasan Ghandehari**, who sponsored **Nigel Farage's pass to the World Economic Forum in Davos** (Jan 2026). - **Financial Times** and **Left Foot Forward** (Apr 2026) reported the story. Orico denies being a subsidiary of any Iranian regime entity and says its links to AQR ended in 2016. - **Intelligence Online** (Mar 2026): French intelligence memo directly links the Iranian regime to a Reform UK party donor for the first time. ### Farage's Iranian Billionaire Connection - **Sasan Ghandehari**, an Iranian billionaire, sponsored Farage's **Davos 2026 pass** -- Farage attended the World Economic Forum as an "adviser" to Ghandehari. - Ghandehari is a client of IAL Ltd (Simpson's company), which donated £200k to Reform. - Raises questions about Iranian-linked money accessing the highest levels of Reform UK leadership. ### Tommy Robinson & Iranian Monarchist Alliance - **Novara Media** (May 2026): Iranian monarchists attended Tommy Robinson's **"Unite the Kingdom" rally** (London, 16 May 2026). - Eight coaches of Iranian supporters reportedly travelled from Manchester to the rally. - Suggests a developing **tactical alliance between some Iranian exiles and the UK far right**, united by shared opposition to the Islamic Republic. - The Guardian observed "British Iranians... had found common cause with Robinson." ### IRGC Influence Operations in the UK (Context) - While Iran's primary UK influence vector is **Islamist extremism rather than far-right funding**, the IRGC operates a "shadowy Shia Islamist extremist and radicalisation apparatus" across Britain (UANI evidence to Parliament). - IRGC-linked entities include **charities, mosques, cultural centres, and student associations** promoting antisemitism and anti-Western propaganda. - **UK charity regulator** has long-running investigations into charities with alleged Iran regime links. - **Parliamentary evidence** (2025): IRGC's network has worked to radicalise young people, recruit adherents, and spread "anti-west and antisemitic propaganda." - This is a **different influence vector** to Russian far-right funding -- Iran targets Islamist networks, not the nationalist far right -- but both represent hostile state influence in UK politics. --- ## Transnational Far-Right Networks ### Active Club Network (US Import) - **Imported from the United States**, the Active Club (AC) network is a decentralised far-right movement promoting physical fitness, martial arts training, and white supremacist ideology. - Described as "neo-Nazi fighting clubs" (BBC), using sports and gym culture to recruit young men. - Promoted since 2020 by US far-right activist **Robert Rundo** (founder of the Rise Above Movement / RAM). - UK branches of Active Clubs have been reported across the country, operating as "fitness groups" while maintaining connections with formal white supremacist organisations including **Patriot Front** (US). - Experts warn the clubs are using sports to "build militia" (BBC, 2024). - Connected to PA and Homeland Party in Wales (see Welsh section). ### Generation Identity (Pan-European) - Pan-European white nationalist movement with an active UK branch. - UK branch described as shifting towards more extreme far-right positions (Guardian, 2019). - The Christchurch mosque shooter donated to the Austrian branch of Generation Identity, highlighting the transnational funding flows. - UK branch has been infiltrated and exposed multiple times by investigative journalists. ### International Far-Right Congresses - **Patriotic Alternative** sent representatives to an international congress of far-right and neo-Nazi movements held at the **Mariinsky Palace in St Petersburg, Russia** (The Insider). - Demonstrates direct organisational links between UK neo-Nazis and the international far right. - Tommy Robinson has spoken at events alongside far-right figures from across Europe and the US. ### Hindutva (Hindu Nationalist) Alliance - **Tommy Robinson** has actively courted Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) groups, giving a 90-minute interview to **Op-India** (run by Nupur J Sharma, ex-BJP spokesperson), viewed nearly 10,000 times. - In **February 2016**, the **National Council of Hindu Temples (NCHT)** -- a mainstream Hindutva organisation -- invited Tommy Robinson to speak at their annual conference in a **Southall temple** (BuzzFeed, The Wire). - **NPCC police report** (2025) warned of Hindutva supporters in the UK aligning with British far-right extremists due to "commonly shared beliefs, including anti-Muslim hatred" (India Today, 2025). - **Novara Media** (2023): "White and Hindu Supremacists Are a Match Made in Heaven" -- documented the growing ideological alliance between white nationalist groups (Patriotic Alternative, EDL) and Hindutva organisations. - **The Canary** (Jan 2026): "Hindu nationalism and white supremacy played a central role in the 2024 race riots" -- collaboration between the two movements fuelled real-world violence. - Tommy Robinson has publicly praised Hindus as "peace-loving" while simultaneously calling for mass deportations of Muslims (Times of India, 2026). - Hindutva charities in the UK operate as **multi-million-dollar tax-exempt organisations** (The Polis Project), with cross-border funding networks from India, US, and Canada. ### China/Hong Kong Vector - **The Guardian** (Apr 2025): An online campaign urged far-right groups in the UK to **physically attack Hong Kong pro-democracy activists and Chinese dissidents** living in Britain. - Represents a different pattern from direct funding -- Beijing-aligned actors using UK far-right groups as **proxies** to target political opponents rather than funding the far right's own agenda. - Several Hong Kong activists were identified as potential targets. British police disrupted some attacks. - Demonstrates how foreign state actors weaponise the UK far right for their own geopolitical objectives, even without direct financial transactions. ### UK Government Response - **May 2026**: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood blocked **11 foreign far-right activists** from entering the UK ahead of Tommy Robinson's "Unite the Kingdom" rally. - Those blocked included **Valentina Gomez** (Colombian-American anti-Islam activist). - Their Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) were withdrawn. - Demonstrates the scale of international far-right travel to UK events. --- ## Gulf State Influence ### Nigel Farage's UAE/Saudi Connections - **December 2025**: Farage visited Abu Dhabi at the expense of the UAE, attending events and meeting officials despite his anti-immigration brand. - Farage met **senior UAE officials** to discuss the Muslim Brotherhood (Middle East Eye), with the FT reporting the Emirati leadership wanted to speak to Reform "owing to a shared opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood." - UAE paid approximately **£1,000** for Farage's visit to Abu Dhabi and **$9,000** for Paddock passes at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Al Jazeera, May 2026). - Accepted hospitality from Saudi officials and spoke at Saudi-funded events. - **Intelligence Online** (Jan 2026): UAE foreign ministry discussing cooperation with **Visegrad24**, an online influence platform linked to Poland's far right -- part of a broader UAE strategy of courting Europe's far right. - Critics accuse him of hypocrisy and foreign influence. ### Bassim Haidar (Lebanon/Nigeria) - **Bassim Haidar** -- Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire, telecom entrepreneur. - Donated **£1m+ to Reform UK** (previously £700k+ to the Conservatives). Pledged another £1m. - Born in Nigeria to Lebanese parents, holds Irish passport. Byline Times called him "The Globalist Billionaire Bankrolling Britain's Anti-Globalist Party." - Bought a **£42m apartment at One Hyde Park** -- the same Knightsbridge complex housing sanctioned Russian oligarchs -- at a 30% discount from the bankrupt wife of a Hong Kong property magnate. - Flies under the donation radar using his One Hyde Park address (same block as Nick Candy, Holly Valance, and other Reform donors). - **Al Jazeera** (May 2026): Haidar spent **£55,000** to fly Farage and two aides to the US for a "speaking engagement and charity event." - Also owns an **Irish property portfolio** (residential and student accommodation) valued at over £100m. - Represents the globalised wealth behind Reform UK's anti-globalist rhetoric. ### The Telegraph Sale - The Telegraph deal shifted to **DMGT (Daily Mail owner, Lord Rothermere)** for **£500 million** (see Right-Wing Media section above). - Earlier RedBird IMI bid (Abu Dhabi-backed) was rejected. - Still under investigation by Lisa Nandy over media plurality concerns. ### Gulf State Funding UK Politics - Politicians from across the spectrum have accepted hospitality from Gulf states (UAE, Saudi Arabia). - Gulf-linked money has flowed into UK think tanks, media outlets, and political campaigns. - Extent of direct funding to politicians remains opaque. --- ## Right-Wing Media Ecosystem (Ownership & Influence) ### GB News - Owned by **Sir Paul Marshall** (hedge fund billionaire) and Dubai-based **Legatum Group**. - **Fined £100,000** by Ofcom (first ever financial sanction against the channel, 2025). - **Found in breach 12 times**, with 19 investigations opened since launch in 2021. 7 investigations still ongoing. - Pays sitting and former politicians as presenters (see below). - **£42.4 million losses** (2022/23), Marshall injected further £41m. Total owner investment now £34m+. - Critics call it "Reform TV" - effectively the party's broadcast arm. ### The Telegraph - Being acquired by **DMGT (Daily Mail owner, Lord Rothermere)** for **£500 million**. - Deal under investigation by **Lisa Nandy** (Culture Secretary) over media plurality concerns. - Would give Rothermere control of **~50% of UK national newspaper industry**. - Previously owned by the Barclay brothers, who rejected earlier RedBird IMI (UAE-backed) bid. ### Daily Mail (DMGT) - Owned by **Lord Rothermere** (wealth estimated over £1 billion). - DMGT acquiring The Telegraph would create a right-leaning media powerhouse with 50%+ circulation. - Long associated with Conservative politics and right-wing causes. ### Daily Express (Reach plc) - Owned by **Reach plc** (also owns Daily Mirror, Daily Star). - Traditionally right-wing, influence has declined. ### The Spectator - Bought by **Paul Marshall** for £100m (2024). ### UnHerd - Owned by **Paul Marshall**. ### Spiked Magazine - Edited by **Brendan O'Neill**. - Received **$300,000** from the **Charles Koch Foundation** (US). - Koch money used to "produce public debates in the US about free speech." - George Monbiot exposed the Koch connection in 2018. - Brendan O'Neill also writes for Reason Magazine (Koch-funded). --- ## Politicians Paid by GB News GB News spent **over half a million pounds** on appearance fees for Tory and Reform politicians in one year. ### Nigel Farage - Paid **£97,928.40 per month** (£1.17m/year) by GB News for 32 hours of work. - **Highest-paid MP** from second jobs. - Total income since elected MP (July 2024): **£2 million** on top of £94k parliamentary salary. - **£675,000 from foreign sources** (Cameo, UAE trips, Saudi events). - **12 different second jobs** registered. - Cameo earnings: **£222,000** since becoming MP. ### Lee Anderson - Former Conservative MP for Ashfield, defected to Reform UK after Islamophobic comments about Sadiq Khan. - Paid **£100,000 per year** by GB News as presenter/contributor. ### Esther McVey - Former Conservative cabinet minister, **sitting MP**. - GB News presenter. ### Jacob Rees-Mogg - Former Leader of the House of Commons, Conservative MP. - Hosts **"The Rees-Mogg Report"** on GB News. - Personal wealth through **Somerset Capital Management** (investment firm). --- ## Laurence Fox & Reclaim Party - **Laurence Fox** (actor turned political commentator) founded the **Reclaim Party**, a right-wing political party. - Frequent guest on **GB News** and other right-wing outlets (TalkTV). - Vocal critic of "woke culture", with controversial views on race, gender, and immigration. - Reclaim Party funding sources remain **opaque**, though wealthy donors have contributed. - Associated with Reform UK and the broader UK right-wing movement. - Fox has appeared alongside Reform UK figures and shared their criticisms. --- ## Elections Bill 2026 & Government Response ### The Rycroft Review (2026) Independent review commissioned by Labour to examine foreign financial influence in UK politics. Key findings: - Current rules for corporate donations require only a "weak link" to UK activity. - Loopholes allow foreign actors to fund political campaigns. - Recommended tighter controls, greater transparency, stronger Electoral Commission powers. ### Key Recommendations Implemented 1. **£100,000 cap** on overseas donations from British citizens living abroad (effective 25 March 2026). 2. Strengthened definition of "UK-based" donors for corporate donations. 3. Greater transparency requirements for donations to think tanks and media outlets. 4. **Stronger Electoral Commission enforcement powers** and higher fines. 5. Closed loopholes allowing foreign actors to fund non-party campaigners. ### Reform UK Response - Criticised the Elections Bill as an "attack on free speech and democracy". - Nigel Farage said the cap is designed to silence Reform UK and its supporters. - Party vowed to challenge the legislation in court. ### Donor Workarounds - **Christopher Harborne** (Thailand-based): suggested challenging the cap in court. - **Ben Delo** (Hong Kong-based): said he will relocate to the UK to continue donating. - Both criticised the cap as "undemocratic". --- ## Charles Koch Foundation & UK Influence - **Charles Koch Foundation** (US libertarian think tank) has funded UK right-wing media including **Spiked magazine**. - Known for funding **climate denial** and free-market ideology. - Accused of using "dark money" to influence UK public debate. - Part of the broader **Atlas Network** global reach. --- ## Welsh Connections ### Nathan Gill - Reform UK Wales Leader Jailed for Russian Bribes - **Nathan Gill**, former leader of Reform UK Wales (March-May 2021), was **sentenced to 10.5 years in prison** in November 2025. - Admitted taking **at least £30,000 in cash bribes** from **Oleg Voloshyn**, an alleged Russian asset. - Made pro-Russian speeches in the European Parliament between December 2018 and July 2019. - Payments referred to as "Christmas gifts" by Gill and his handler. - First uncovered when stopped at Manchester airport on 13 September 2021, about to travel to Russia. - Was a UKIP MEP before joining Reform UK. - **The most significant proven case of Russian financial influence on a UK far-right politician**, and it happened in Wales. ### Woodlander Initiative - Far-Right Settlement in Mid-Wales (FUNDING) - **Raised over £150,000** from extremists across the UK to buy land for "white homelands" (Searchlight Magazine, April 2025). - Led by **Simon Birkett** (AKA Woodlander), Wiltshire-based tattoo artist, veteran fascist (National Front, BNP). - Money used to buy **two plots of land near Llanafan Fawr**, mid-Wales (LD2 3PN). - **Patriotic Alternative** called it "a fantastic initiative that allows nationalists to pool their money to buy land." - PA members have been using the land for 'camping' weekends. - **Now in serious trouble**: TWI assets (land + remaining cash) may be **confiscated by the Crown** due to legal/organisational problems. - Birkett cited **Orania** (whites-only town in South Africa) as inspiration. - **Bylines Cymru** exposed it as "controlled by one man with ties to fascist groups." - **HOPE not Hate** and **The Canary** both investigated. - The scheme represents far-right **crowdfunding for ethno-nationalist land acquisition** - a new funding model for the UK far right. ### Reform UK Wales - Senedd 2026 - **Dan Thomas** (born c.1981) is the current Reform UK Wales leader and **Leader of the Opposition in Wales** since 2026. - **Won a Senedd seat** in the 2026 election - Reform UK's first ever elected MSs. - Reform UK is **neck and neck with Plaid Cymru** in Senedd voting intention (YouGov, 2026). - The 2026 Senedd election could be historic - Labour's century-long dominance in Wales under threat. - Reform UK announced Senedd candidates, though questions raised about how many actually live in Wales vs being parachuted in. - Delyth Jewell MS (Plaid Cymru Deputy Leader) called Reform "a limited company backed by millionaires." - The **national Reform UK war chest** (Harborne, Delo, Hosking millions) flows into the Welsh campaign. - IFS analysis: Reform UK's Welsh manifesto echoes Conservative proposals while leaving spending cuts unspecified. - Thomas stated Reform would "represent the people, focus on everyday issues, and prioritise common sense over ideology." ### David Jones - Former Welsh Secretary Joins Reform - **David Jones**, former Conservative MP for Clwyd West (2005-2024), has **joined Reform UK**. - Served as **Secretary of State for Wales** (2012-2014) under David Cameron. - Was also a minister in the Department for Exiting the EU (2016-2017). - His defection to Reform represents the established Welsh Tory right shifting to Farage's party. - Brings establishment connections and donor networks with him. ### Patriotic Alternative in Wales **Overview** - **Patriotic Alternative (PA)** is the UK's largest neo-Nazi organisation, founded in September 2019 by **Mark Collett**, former BNP Director of Publicity and Communications. - Collett was filmed in 2002 by BBC's The Secret Agent calling Jews 'the enemy' and saying refugees should be gassed. - PA has around **500 members** and thousands of online followers, operating regional branches across the UK including active branches in Wales. - Named as promoting 'neo-Nazi ideology' in the UK government's definition of extremism (March 2024). **Welsh Leadership: Joe Marsh** - PA's Welsh organiser is **Joe Marsh** (also known as Joe Butler), a convicted football hooligan and veteran far-right activist. - Jailed in 2015 for attacking a female anti-austerity protester. - Leading figure in the **Pie & Mash Squad** hooligan firm. - Previously involved in the BNP and multiple far-right groups. - BBC undercover journalist met Marsh in 2023 following Llanelli protests. **BBC Investigation (2025)** - **BBC Wales Investigates** programme "Unmasked: Extreme Far Right" (January 2025) documented a year-long undercover infiltration of PA. - Journalist posed as "Dan Jones", attending protests, summer camps, conferences, and a funeral. - Members filmed making comments experts say could amount to inciting racial hatred. - **South Wales Police launched investigation** into PA's activities in Wales following the documentary. - When contacted by BBC, most members secretly filmed refused to answer questions; one accused BBC of "anti-white bias". **Anti-Immigration Protests in Wales** - **Llanelli (2023):** PA attempted to exploit local tensions over asylum seeker accommodation. Well-known far-right extremists headed to the town to recruit. - **St Athan (2024):** PA threatened to travel to protest and terrorise Afghan refugees housed there. HOPE not hate reported Marsh spent weeks promoting the protest, but attendance was poor after Collett prioritised a trip to Finland. - **Llantwit Major (2023):** Two arrests made after hundreds gathered to oppose PA demonstration against Vale of Glamorgan council's plans to house Ukrainian refugees. **The Woodlander Initiative & Land Purchases** - **The Woodlander Initiative (TWI)** is a land-buying scheme led by **Simon Birkett** (AKA Woodlander), a Wiltshire-based tattoo artist and far-right activist. - TWI has raised **over £150,000** from extremists, with a goal of raising £1 million to buy land in every county to create 'white homelands'. - **Two plots of land purchased in Llanafan Fawr, mid-Wales** - used by PA members for camping trips, training exercises, and social gatherings. - TWI claims to be "not a political organisation" but sites have become a base for far-right activity. - **Mark Collett praised TWI** as a "fantastic initiative" in fascist magazine Heritage & Destiny. - Birkett spoke at PA's 2024 annual conference. - The Times reported (August 2025) that TWI had "forged close ties" with PA. - Guardian investigation (August 2025) examined why far-right figures chose the mid-Wales village. - Legal experts suggest money and land could be confiscated under proceeds of crime legislation if activities promote racial hatred. - Charity Commission asked to investigate whether TWI's fundraising breaches charity law. **Funding & Structure** - PA registered as **Patriotic Alternative Ltd** (company number 12759841) at International House, 61 Mosley Street, Manchester. - Funding sources: membership subscriptions, merchandise sales (branded clothing, flags, publications), crowdfunding campaigns, donations. - **2024 Electoral Commission rejection:** PA's application to register as a political party rejected - constitution did not properly set out party structure, financial scheme not compliant with law. - **Heritage & Destiny** fascist magazine regularly features PA content and promotion. - Collett personally rings members to boost conference attendance. **Reform UK Infiltration Strategy (2025)** - **May 2025:** Collett called for supporters to "infiltrate" Reform UK following its electoral success, seeking to push the party further right on immigration. - Multiple far-right groups (including PA) signed joint declaration encouraging members to support, infiltrate, and "covertly" run for Reform UK. - Collett endorsed Reform in the 2024 general election. - Strategy represents shift from street-level organising to entryist tactics. **2024 Conference** - Guest speaker: **Blair Cottrell**, Australian far-right activist convicted of burglary, arson, and inciting contempt of Muslims. - Conference held in Midlands, October 2024. **Links to Active Club Network** - PA connected to **Active Club Network**, a decentralised far-right movement promoting physical fitness, martial arts training, and white supremacist ideology. - Represents the street-level, militant far right operating in Wales and across the UK. ### 2025 Anti-Immigration Protests in Wales - Multiple far-right groups involved in anti-immigration protests across Wales in 2025: - **Advance UK** - **Britain First** - **British Unity** - **Homeland Party** - **Patriotic Alternative** - **Reform UK** (members attending, not official party involvement) - **UKIP** - **Turning Point UK** - Protests targeted hotels and accommodation housing asylum seekers. - Protesters recorded using racial slurs and calling for migrants to be shot. - Over 200 organisations signed an open letter condemning the protests. - Welsh Refugee Council among signatories. ### Craig Williams MP - Welsh Tory Donations - **Craig Williams**, former Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire (previously Cardiff North). Lost seat in 2024 general election. - Was parliamentary private secretary to Rishi Sunak. - WalesOnline investigation found significant private cash pouring into Welsh constituencies. - Part of the broader pattern of Welsh Tory MPs accepting donations from right-wing interests. ### GB News & Welsh Politics - GB News covers Welsh politics with a right-wing editorial line. - No specific Welsh presenter identified, but the channel's anti-Senedd, anti-Welsh Government stance aligns with Reform UK Wales messaging. - Amplifies anti-immigration narratives that play into Welsh far-right activism. ### Blaenau Gwent - Your Constituency (FUNDING ANGLE) - **Llyr Powell** elected as Reform UK Senedd Member for **Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni** in 2026. - **Jonathan Millard**, councillor for **Ebbw Vale South** on Blaenau Gwent CBC, **joined Reform UK Wales**. - A Reform candidate for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney **withdrew** from general election after reposting racist content. - **Labour failed to be re-elected** in this constituency - massive shock. - Reform's campaign in Blaenau Gwent funded from the **national crypto-billionaire war chest** - the same Harborne/Delo/Hosking millions. - No Welsh-specific donors identified yet - the money flows from the top down. - Delyth Jewell (Plaid): "Reform UK are a limited company backed by millionaires, but we have been backed by the ordinary, wonderful people of Wales." --- ## Welsh Funding Summary The honest picture: **Welsh-specific far-right donor names are thin on the ground.** What we know: 1. **Reform UK Wales** is funded entirely from the **national war chest** - Harborne (£15m+), Delo, Hosking. The £9m Q1 2026 donation funded the Senedd campaign that won 34 seats. 2. **Woodlander Initiative** raised **£150,000+** from extremists to buy Welsh land for white enclaves - now facing Crown confiscation. 3. **Tommy Robinson** gets **$300,000+** from US donors (Andy Miller et al.) for UK rallies. 4. **Nathan Gill** took **£30,000+ in Russian bribes** - the only proven foreign funding to a Welsh far-right politician. 5. **Senedd register of interests** is too new to analyse - worth revisiting in a few months when the 34 Reform MSs have populated their declarations. 6. **Far-right crowdfunding** (GiveSendGo, crypto, QR codes at rallies) is the growing funding model - harder to trace than traditional donations. 7. **PA/Homeland Party** funding is opaque by design - member donations, merch, crypto. The valleys are being flooded with the same crypto-billionaire money that funds the national operation. No separate Welsh donor class has emerged yet - it's all top-down. ### Dan Thomas - Reform UK Wales Leader (FUNDING/ELECTORAL ISSUES) - Born c.1981, originally from **Blackwood** in Caerphilly county. - **Former leader of Barnet Council** in London (Conservative, 2019-2022). - Councillor for Finchley Church End (2006-2025). - **Nation.Cymru exposed**: Thomas was **not on the electoral register in December 2025**, raising questions about his Welsh residency claims. - Claims he's "back home, raising my two boys in the south Wales valleys." - Conservatives accused Reform of **"parachuting"** him back to Wales. - Eluned Morgan: Reform is "absolutely packed with Tories jumping ship." - **No specific donor declarations publicly available yet** for Thomas personally. - His Senedd campaign funded from the **national Reform war chest** (Harborne/Delo/Hosking millions). ### Llyr Powell - Reform MS for Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni - Elected to Senedd in 2026 - first ever Reform MS. - Hailed Farage as "future Prime Minister." - **Received 55 death threats** during campaign, door kicked in, spat at (BBC). - Stood unsuccessfully in Caerphilly by-election October 2025. - Claims "local businesses" backing him (Reform press release). - **No specific donor declarations publicly available yet**. ### Senedd Register of Interests (Reform MSs) - The Seventh Senedd register is **newly populated** (election was May 2026). - Published at senedd.wales/senedd-business/register-of-members-interests - **TheyWorkForYou** tracks it: theyworkforyou.com/interests/category?chamber=senedd - **ERS Cymru** notes: only donations over **£2,230** from a single source need registering with the Electoral Commission. - New MSs receive **£12,000+ pay rises** following 2026 election. - The 34 Reform MSs' registers are worth monitoring as they populate - this is where Welsh-specific donor names will appear. - **Currently too new** for meaningful analysis - most entries will be hospitality/gifts rather than campaign donations at this stage. ### Far-Right Crowdfunding Platforms (FUNDING PIPELINE) - **GiveSendGo** - self-styled "#1 Free Christian Crowdfunding Site" - hosts extremist campaigns. - **ADL found**: extremists raised at least **$6.2 million** (2016-2022) via 10 crowdfunding platforms. - **GiveSendGo/Stripe** facilitated **$5.4 million** to extremist causes (86.5% of total). - January 6 defendants, Proud Boys, Unite the Right rally all crowdfunded. - **Proud Boy leader Ethan Nordean** raised $18,951 for "protective gear and communications" before January 6. - UK far-right groups increasingly using these platforms to bypass traditional banking. - **Tommy Robinson** uses his own mailing list + QR codes + crypto promotions at rallies. ### Tommy Robinson Rally Funding - American Money (FUNDING) - **"Unite the Kingdom" rally** (London, 16 May 2026) funded by US donors: - **$200,000 from Andy Miller** - former Apple executive, Nashville, now owns an NBA team. - **$100,000 from another American donor** (name not fully confirmed). - Robinson told attendees Miller was the key backer. - **HOPE not Hate**: "Big Money, Dwindling Crowds" - smaller turnout than expected despite massive US funding. - **Bureau of Investigative Journalism**: rally was "an operation built to turn grievance into clips, donations and sales" - QR codes, merch stands, crypto promotions, AI rapper. - **Mario Nawfal** (X): "A British nationalist movement. Bankrolled from Tennessee. This is the transatlantic alliance being built in real time." - Counter-protest raised **£100,000 for refugees** in 24 hours. ### Advance UK (FUNDING) - Far-right party launched June 2025 by **Ben Habib**, former Deputy Leader of Reform UK. - Sponsored Tommy Robinson's "Unite the Kingdom" rally (September 2025). - Received support from Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk. - **Wound down 3 June 2026** to avoid fragmenting the right-wing vote. - Funding sources opaque - likely overlaps with Reform donor network. ### Advance UK (FUNDING) - Far-right party launched June 2025 by **Ben Habib**, former Deputy Leader of Reform UK. - Sponsored Tommy Robinson's "Unite the Kingdom" rally (September 2025). - Received support from Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk. - **Wound down 3 June 2026** to avoid fragmenting the right-wing vote. - Funding sources opaque - likely overlaps with Reform donor network. ### Patriotic Alternative / Homeland Party Funding - PA is the UK's largest neo-Nazi group (Mark Collett, founder). - **Funding opaque** - classified as hate group, no Electoral Commission registration required. - **Homeland Party** (PA splinter, April 2023) now accepting **cryptocurrency donations**. - PA called the Woodlander Initiative "a fantastic initiative that allows nationalists to pool their money to buy land." - PA members hosted at Woodlander Initiative land in Wales for 'camping' weekends. - **Craig Buckley** (PA activist) set up a proxy political party for PA (Searchlight, March 2025). - BBC went undercover for a year (2025 investigation) - members recorded using racial slurs. - Funding comes from member donations, merchandise, and crowdfunding. ### Blaenau Gwent - Your Constituency (FUNDING ANGLE) - **Llyr Powell** elected as Reform UK Senedd Member for **Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni** in 2026. - **Jonathan Millard**, councillor for **Ebbw Vale South** on Blaenau Gwent CBC, **joined Reform UK Wales**. - A Reform candidate for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney **withdrew** from general election after reposting racist content. - **Labour failed to be re-elected** in this constituency - massive shock. - Reform's campaign in Blaenau Gwent funded from the **national crypto-billionaire war chest** - the same Harborne/Delo/Hosking millions. - No Welsh-specific donors identified yet - the money flows from the top down. - Delyth Jewell (Plaid): "Reform UK are a limited company backed by millionaires, but we have been backed by the ordinary, wonderful people of Wales." ### 2026 Senedd Election Results (Full Picture) - **Plaid Cymru won 43 seats** (35.4%) - largest party, but short of 49-seat majority. - **Reform UK won 34 seats** (29.3%) - second largest, first ever Senedd representation. - **Labour won just 9 seats** (11.1%) - Eluned Morgan lost her seat, worst result ever. - Conservatives: 7 seats (10.7%). - Greens: 2 seats (6.7%). - Lib Dems: 1 seat (4.5%). - Reform's £9m war chest and national donor network directly funded this breakthrough. - **Delyth Jewell** (Plaid Deputy Leader): "Reform UK are a limited company backed by millionaires, but we have been backed by the ordinary, wonderful people of Wales." --- ## Shady / Lesser-Known Funders ### Robert Mercer (US) - US hedge fund billionaire, co-owner of **Breitbart News Network**. - **Long-time friend of Nigel Farage**. - Directed his data analytics firm **Cambridge Analytica** to provide services to the Leave.EU campaign - a **donation of services not declared** to the Electoral Commission. - Bankrolled Trump's 2016 campaign and key Brexit operations simultaneously. - The Mercer-Cambridge Analytica-Farage pipeline is one of the most significant undeclared foreign influence operations in modern British politics. ### Arron Banks' Offshore Web - NCA investigated whether an **Isle of Man firm** was the true source of up to **£8 million** in Leave.EU funding. - Banks' company **Henley and Partners** (offshore citizenship/residency schemes) was at the centre of allegations. - Banks had **multiple undisclosed meetings with Russian embassy officials** before the Brexit referendum. - Offered business opportunities in Russia. - Electoral Commission eventually conceded Banks did not break electoral law (2020), but the NCA investigation found serious questions unanswered. ### 130+ Reform Candidates - Anonymous Crowdfunding - **136 Reform UK candidates** were raising money via a crowdfunding platform that allows donors to **keep their address secret and donate from abroad** (Byline Times, July 2024). - Circumvents the spirit if not the letter of electoral donation rules. - Makes it impossible to verify whether donors are eligible UK-based individuals. ### Ex-Tory Donors Flooding Reform - openDemocracy found that **a quarter of Reform's £4.8m in large donations** (since 2023) came from **former Conservative Party donors**. - These donors previously funded the Tory right and have now shifted to Farage. - Represents a transfer of establishment right-wing money to the populist far right. ### Tufton Street Donors to Trump ($45m) - A joint Democracy for Sale / Byline Times investigation found that **at least 15 individuals and companies** who donated to Tufton Street think tanks also gave **$45.5 million (£35.2m)** to Trump campaigns and Republican committees. - Donors include: **British American Tobacco**, a **billionaire sanctioned by Ukraine**, a leading financier, and an American heiress accused of supporting racism and climate denial. - The same dark money network shaping UK policy is directly funding US right-wing politics. ### Lord Ashcroft - **Michael Ashcroft**, non-dom peer and pollster, operates from **Belize** (tax haven). - Runs influential polling and focus group operations that shape Conservative and Reform strategy. - Published extensive polling on Reform UK voters and potential Tory-Reform coalitions. - Not a direct party donor, but his polling operation effectively **provides free strategic intelligence** to the right. - His non-dom status and offshore wealth have long been controversial. ### David Frost (Lord Frost) - Boris Johnson's Chief Brexit Negotiator, now embedded in the think tank network. - Board trustee at **Net Zero Watch** (campaigning arm of the **Global Warming Policy Foundation** - UK's most prominent climate denial group) since January 2025. - Senior fellow at **Policy Exchange** (2022-2023). - Represents the **revolving door** between government, Brexit establishment, and right-wing dark money think tanks. ### Christian Conservative Dark Money Pipeline - US Christian right groups have spent **millions in Europe** on anti-abortion, anti-LGBT, and anti-gender campaigns (openDemocracy's Tracking the Backlash investigation). - **ADF International** (UK) received over **£4 million** from its US parent since 2018. - UK spending: **£1.4 million** in 2024 alone (tripled since 2020). - Links to Reform UK and right-wing Conservative factions. - The Christian nationalist agenda from the US is being exported to the UK via well-funded legal campaigns and lobbying. ### Pro-Israel Lobby - **180 of Britain's 650 MPs** accepted funding from pro-Israel lobby groups or individuals (Declassified UK investigation). - Total value: **over £1 million** in donations plus **240+ paid trips to Israel** (costing £500k+). - Cross-party but concentrated on the right. - Pro-Israel donors overlap with right-wing Conservative and Reform funding networks. #### Reform Friends of Israel - Newly formed group specifically targeting Reform UK politicians. - Funded trips to Israel for Reform UK figures, mirroring the model of Conservative Friends of Israel and Labour Friends of Israel. - **Israel is actively ramping up lobbying of Reform UK** (The National, 2025), seeing Farage's party as a potential next government. #### ELNET - Secretive Israel-focused advocacy group taking UK MPs on funded trips to Israel. - Described as having a "clear agenda" to shape the policies of the next UK government (openDemocracy). - Directly linked to incentivising UK MPs with all-expenses-paid Israel visits. - **Track Israel Lobby UK** project monitors spending: trackisraellobby.uk --- ## Vote Leave / BeLeave Scandal (Brexit Era) - **Vote Leave** was the official Leave campaign in the 2016 EU referendum, led by **Dominic Cummings**. - **BeLeave** was a youth-focused offshoot. Whistleblower **Shahmir Sanni** revealed that Vote Leave coordinated spending with BeLeave, potentially breaching electoral law. - Vote Leave was fined **£61,000** by the Electoral Commission for overspending and false declarations. - **Aggregate Industries** (a concrete company) was used as a conduit for coordinated spending - Vote Leave paid AIQ (data firm) via a "donation" to BeLeave. - **Cambridge Analytica** connections investigated but not proven in court. - Cummings was found in **contempt of Parliament** for refusing to attend a fake news inquiry. - Cummings later became Boris Johnson's senior adviser. - The scandal set the template for the donor opacity and electoral law bending that characterises the current far-right funding landscape. --- ## Rupert Lowe & Restore Britain - **Rupert Lowe**, former Reform UK MP for Great Yarmouth, was suspended from the party in March 2025. - Now sits as an independent MP. - Launched **Restore Britain** as a new political party (2026). - Former chairman of Southampton FC, businessman and farmer. - Funding sources for Restore Britain remain unclear. - Represents the fracturing of the Reform UK right into competing factions. --- ## Patriotic Alternative (Neo-Nazi) - British far-right, neo-Nazi and white nationalist group. - Founded September 2019 by **Mark Collett**, former BNP publicity director. - Gaining recruits through social media and online gaming. - Operates branches nationwide. - Funding opaque - classified as a hate group by HOPE not hate. - Represents the street-level far right that benefits from the mainstreaming of anti-immigration rhetoric by Reform UK. --- ## Daily Mail / Telegraph Merger (2025-26) - **DMGT (Lord Rothermere)** struck a **£500 million deal** to buy The Telegraph from the Barclay brothers (November 2025). - **Lisa Nandy** (Culture Secretary) ordered an investigation into media plurality concerns (January 2026). - Would give Rothermere's DMG Media control of **~50% of UK national newspaper circulation**. - Combined entity would overtake Rupert Murdoch's News UK as dominant owner of national titles. - DMG Media already owns: Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, Metro, i Paper. - **Media Reform Coalition** warned of "extreme levels of concentrated ownership" doing "significant harm to democracy." --- ## Key Figures (continued) | Figure | Role | Connection | |--------|------|------------| | Jeremy Hosking | Reform mega-donor | £23m combined with Harborne & Tice | | Toby Young | FSU founder | US anti-abortion funding, Atlas Network links | | Charlie Kirk | Turning Point USA/UK founder | $389m raised, died Sept 2025 | | Danny Kruger MP | New Conservatives group | £60k from Prosperity Institute (offshore funds) | | Jack Posobiec | US far-right influencer | Met Tommy Robinson at State Dept | | Elon Musk | Tech billionaire | Funded Robinson's legal fees | | Arron Banks | Leave.EU donor | £8.4m to Leave.EU, NCA investigations | | Laurence Fox | Reclaim Party founder | GB News appearances, opaque funding | | Lee Anderson | Reform UK MP | GB News £100k/year, defected from Tories | | Esther McVey | Conservative MP | GB News presenter | | Jacob Rees-Mogg | Conservative MP | GB News presenter, Somerset Capital Management | | Brendan O'Neill | Spiked editor | $300k Charles Koch Foundation funding | | Lord Rothermere | Daily Mail/Telegraph owner | £500m Telegraph deal, ~50% of UK press | || Nathan Gill | Former Reform UK Wales leader | **Jailed 10.5 years** for £40k Russia bribes | || Rupert Lowe | Restore Britain founder | Ex-Reform MP, independent | || Mark Collett | Patriotic Alternative founder | Neo-Nazi, former BNP | || Dominic Cummings | Vote Leave mastermind | BeLeave scandal, contempt of Parliament | || Christopher Chandler | Legatum Group founder | Dubai-based, funds Prosperity Institute | || Nick Candy | Reform UK Treasurer | One Hyde Park developer, £1.55m from block housing sanctioned Russian oligarchs | || James Orr | Farage's senior policy advisor | RSFL board, Orban-backed Russian oil network, Centre for a Better Britain £25m fund | || Christopher Harborne | Reform UK biggest donor (£15m+) | Tether stakeholder - crypto linked to Russian sanctions evasion, NCA investigation | || John Simpson | Reform UK donor (£200k) | Director of Orico General Trading, linked to sanctioned Iranian AQR conglomerate | || Sasan Ghandehari | Iranian billionaire | Sponsored Farage's Davos pass 2026, client of Iran-linked Reform donor firm | || Holly Valance | Reform UK donor | One Hyde Park resident, donated alongside Nick Candy | || Bassim Haidar | Reform UK donor | One Hyde Park resident, donated £555k+ via Candy circle | --- ## Sources - The Guardian: Funding for populist-right 'media-political complex' exceeded £170m (23 Mar 2026) - Al Jazeera: Follow the money - How far-right Reform UK built a global network (6 May 2026) - Al Jazeera: Reform UK leader Farage faces parliamentary probe over $7m gift (13 May 2026) - The Independent: Reform UK receives millions from crypto billionaires (2026) - DeSmog: Nigel Farage Has Personally Accepted £675,000 from Foreign Sources (18 Apr 2026) - The Canary: Liam Byrne - Millions of pounds fund populist right-wing ecosystem (24 Mar 2026) - Left Foot Forward: Funding for right-wing media-political ecosystem exceeded £170m (Mar 2026) - Reuters: UK's Farage describes $7 million gift as a 'reward' for Brexit (13 May 2026) - The Guardian: Tommy Robinson's 'far-right Glastonbury' (16 May 2026) - DeSmog: GB News Owner Paul Marshall Calls for BBC's Fact-Checking Service to be Shut Down (28 May 2025) - GOV.UK: The Rycroft Review (2026) - The Guardian: Cryptocurrency backed by Farage donor is used for Russian war effort (21 Nov 2025) - Byline Times: Reform UK Treasurer and Donors Share London Address with Sanctioned Russian Oligarchs (7 May 2026) - Byline Times: Nigel Farage's £9m Donor Profits From Putin Propaganda Platform While Holding MoD Stake (16 Dec 2025) - Byline Times: Nigel Farage Advisor Tied to Russian Oil Profits Via Orban-Backed Influence Operation (13 Feb 2026) - Byline Times: Reform UK Candidate Runs Firm Hired by Sanctioned Pro-Putin Bosnian Serb Leadership (22 Apr 2026) - Byline Times: Exposed - How Viktor Orban Bankrolled the Network Around Reform UK (14 Apr 2026) - DeSmog: Mapped - The Reform-Orban Network (8 Apr 2026) - DeSmog: Eight Things You Should Know About Reform's Policy Chief James Orr (2 Apr 2026) - Good Law Project: Putin's megaphone - Orban's far-right push into UK universities is fuelled by Russian oil (2026) - Good Law Project: Orban's pay cheques - Reform candidate fuelled by profits from Russian oil (2026) - Financial Times: Reform UK donor runs company linked to sanctioned Iranian conglomerate (Apr 2026) - Left Foot Forward: Reform UK donor runs company linked to sanctioned Iranian conglomerate (Apr 2026) - Intelligence Online: French intel memo links Iranian regime to Reform UK party donor (30 Mar 2026) - Left Foot Forward: Man of the people Nigel Farage attended Davos as adviser to Iranian billionaire (Jan 2026) - Novara Media: What Do People Attending a Tommy Robinson March Really Believe? (19 May 2026) - Byline Times: Bassim Haidar - The 'Globalist' Billionaire Bankrolling Britain's Anti-Globalist Party (7 Nov 2025) - Middle East Eye: Nigel Farage met senior UAE officials to discuss Muslim Brotherhood on funded trip (2026) - Intelligence Online: UAE - From Farage to Bardella and Visegrad24, Europe's far-right courts Abu Dhabi (28 Jan 2026) - The National: How Israel is ramping up its lobbying of Reform UK and the far-right (2025) - openDemocracy: ELNET - The secretive group taking MPs on trips to Israel (2025) - Declassified UK: Friends of Israel groups have funded 56 trips for British politicians (2025) - The Ferret: UK far right raises money for convicted racists on US platform used by neo-Nazis (2025) - Bloomberg: UK Bars 11 Foreign Far-Right Activists From Entering Before London Protest (15 May 2026) - BBC: Growth of far-right 'active clubs' in UK prompts call to tackle misogyny (2024) - The Insider: Patriotic Alternative representatives at St Petersburg neo-Nazi congress (2025) - ADL: Crowdfunding Report - How Bigots and Extremists Collect and Use Millions in Online Donations (2022) - Varsity: Foundation with links to Hungarian government funding programmes at Cambridge (2023/2026) - Varsity: Right-wing billionaire Peter Thiel gives 'antichrist' lecture in Cambridge (2026) - The Nerve: With Orban gone, has the British far right lost its magic money tree? (2026) - Novara Media: White and Hindu Supremacists Are a Match Made in Heaven (23 Feb 2023) - The Wire: Hindu Supremacists and White Supremacists Have One Thing in Common for Now - Islamophobia (2025) - India Today: Hindu groups allying with anti-Muslim far-right, says UK report (21 Apr 2025) - The Canary: Hindu nationalism and white supremacy played a central role in the 2024 race riots (Jan 2026) - The Guardian: Revealed - online campaign urged far right to attack China's opponents in UK (28 Apr 2025) - The Polis Project: The Transnational Illicit Finance Funding Hindutva (2025) - Mirror: Nigel Farage's Reform UK handed almost £15m by offshore millionaires (23 May 2026) - British Brief: Reform UK received £15m from offshore-linked donors in 2025 (2026) - The Guardian: Nigel Farage's trip to Davos hosted and paid for by family trust of billionaire (23 Jan 2026) - The Guardian: Court battle over Picasso art exposes offshore finances of Farage's Davos sponsor (6 Feb 2026) - Transparency International UK: Political finance reform recommendations (2026) - Electoral Commission: Political parties accept £24.7m in donations Q1 2026 (2026)