Reform UK receives record £36m donation from crypto billionaire Ben Delo
Unbiased summary
Reform UK has received a £36 million donation from Ben Delo, a British cryptocurrency billionaire and co-founder of BitMEX. This is the largest single donation ever made to a UK political party. Delo, who had previously given Reform £8 million, was convicted in the US in 2022 for failing to implement adequate anti-money laundering controls and later pardoned by President Trump. The donation comes amid ongoing police investigations into Reform's funding and a parliamentary inquiry into a separate £5 million gift from another donor. Delo stated he wanted a 'fair fight' and a 'level playing field' for Reform, and announced he would contribute £1 million per month until the next general election, but made the full payment upfront to avoid potential future restrictions on large donations.
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Coverage by outlet
The Guardian
left
Angle
The Guardian frames the donation as a troubling example of mega-donors distorting democracy, emphasising the legal controversies and the need for tighter regulation.
Bias
The Guardian heavily emphasises Delo's criminal conviction and Trump pardon, the ongoing police investigation, and the undeclared gift to Farage. It downplays Delo's stated motivation, instead focusing on Labour's consideration of donation caps and quoting a Labour MP calling for action. The coverage suggests the donation is a problem rather than a neutral event, aligning with a left-wing scepticism of large political donations.
BBC News
centre-left
Angle
The BBC presents the donation as straightforward news, balancing the record amount with Delo's justification and the surrounding legal scrutiny.
Bias
The BBC includes Delo's own words from the Telegraph, giving him a platform, and notes the absence of caps on UK donors. It also mentions the police investigation but does not editorialise. While factually accurate, it treats the controversy as one of several elements, neither amplifying nor minimising it. The tone is neutral but slightly more favourable to Reform than the Guardian because it includes Delo's 'fair fight' rationale without challenge.
The Independent
centre-left
Angle
The Independent reports the donation as a significant fundraising boost and places it in the context of broader party finances, while noting the ongoing investigations.
Bias
The Independent provides comparative figures for donations to Tories and Labour, which contextualises Reform's position. It mentions Delo's conviction and pardon, and the police probe, but does not explicitly criticise the donation. The angle is factual but subtly critical by highlighting the party's total donations versus others, suggesting the scale is noteworthy. It avoids overt bias while maintaining a centre-left scepticism of large political gifts.
Daily Mail
right
Angle
The Daily Mail frames the donation as justified by Delo's desire for a 'fair fight', and portrays Reform as battling a political establishment, while downplaying the seriousness of the legal issues.
Bias
The Daily Mail leads with Delo's rationale and describes his donation as a response to Reform's 'difficult summer' and alleged establishment opposition. It omits any criticism of the donation size and treats the police investigation and sleaze inquiry as side facts. The mention of Clacton by-election and 'Count Binface' adds a mocking undertone to Reform's critics. This right-leaning outlet is sympathetic to Reform and presents Delo as a benefactor rather than a controversial figure.
The Sun
right
Angle
The Sun focuses on the 'fair fight' narrative, celebrating the record donation as a boost for Reform, while acknowledging the ongoing probe in a straightforward manner.
Bias
The Sun's headline and opening prioritise Delo's 'fair fight' quote and the historic nature of the donation. It includes the conviction and pardon but does not emphasise their severity. The tone is supportive of Reform, framing the donation as a way to counter rivals' 'entrenched advantages'. Unlike the Guardian, it does not question the influence of mega-donors, instead treating the sum as a positive development for the party. The bias is right-wing, favouring Reform's narrative.