In 2022 Mr Delo was convicted in America of failing to implement money-laundering controls—he was later pardoned by President Donald Trump. Nobody could mistake Ben Delo or Christopher Harborne for saints. Both made fortunes in cryptocurrencies. Both men are keener on Reform uk, a populist right-wing party led by Nigel Farage, than any sensible person should be. Yet, by promising unheard-of quantities of money to Reform, both have done something useful.
The worriers make three intertwined arguments. They claim that Reform habitually bends and even breaks the rules; that the cash gives the party an unfair advantage; and that big money harms politics. Only one of these claims holds water. The whiff of impropriety around Reform is real. In early September the party suspended two senior figures after they were filmed apparently encouraging a would-be donor to break the rules on giving. Mr Farage was filmed slurping down oysters while others discussed the rule-breaking. (He insists he was not listening properly, which is not much of a defence.) Parliament and the police are investigating other donations. One reason not to block money is that, after a certain point, cash cannot simply buy victory in elections (see Britain section). And even if it could, restrictions on campaign spending in Britain are a leveller. In the case of Reform, the windfall could grow poisonous as factions already at war within the party struggle for a share of the spoils. The other reason is that British politics needs money. So did the Royal Opera House. Or compare Britain with America. Reform’s £72m windfall is worth less than the money spent on this year’s Republican Senate primary election in Texas. Impoverished British parties are barely able to prepare for power. Most shadow ministers rely on teams of two or three staffers to put together a programme for government. If so, it would be a start. Restricting donations would make this problem worse. And doing so retroactively would discredit the rule of law. Turning the election rulebook into a tool for the establishment to keep insurgents out really would be a gift to Mr Farage. If you are an opponent of Reform, instead of reaching for the statute book you should shun the donkeys this year and pick the party you would most like to win. Hold your nose with one hand, and reach for the chequebook with the other.
The victor of a general election wins control of more than £1.3trn in public spending; those vying for this prize do so on a shoestring. Reform boasts that it will use its new infusion of cash to double the number of policy researchers it has—to a grand total of 20.
Last year the Donkey Sanctuary, a charity in Devon that cares for down-on-their-luck equines, received more than every major political party combined. When Parliament has previously made past actions unlawful, it was to pursue elderly Nazis and Yugoslav war criminals.
