Donations of £72m make Reform’s prospects both rosier and riskier

‘One of the downsides of the windfalls is the renewed focus they will place on Nigel Farage’s own finances.’ Photograph: Sean Smith/The Guardian

All things being equal, pretty much any political strategist would welcome a £72m war chest; a sum higher than the combined spending of every major party at the 2024 general election. But all things are not equal, and with such a huge amount comes risk.

Reform UK has been vocal in its arguments that two sudden £36m windfalls from billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne merely “levels the playing field” with the bigger parties when it comes to funding.