PODCAST: Who is funding Reform and why?

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Who is really backing Reform?

Nigel Farage’s party brands itself as a movement of ordinary people, but the latest episode of In Solidarity reveals a more complicated story.

In this first episode of our new series on political finance in England and Wales, reporter Ethan Shone investigates Reform's nearly £5 million in donor funding. Some of that money comes from individuals linked to fossil fuels, finance and tax havens. So who are these backers, and what does their support really mean?

Find out more below.

- openDemocracy

EDITOR'S PICKS

1	💰 Who’s funding Reform – and why? Nigel Farage says his party is a break from the political establishment. That claim doesn’t match up with its donors Read more...
2	🛢️ Weak UK lobbying laws let fossil fuel giants influence climate policies Oil and gas firms were able to water down or change Conservative policies without scrutiny, new report finds Read more...
3	⚖️ US sanctions on ICC judges highlight pursuit of selective justice Whether it’s ICC judges or South Africa challenging Israel’s war against Hamas, the result is the same Read more...

FEATURED EPISODE

Who is funding Nigel Farage’s Reform party – and why?

In Solidarity

This is the first episode of our new mini-series exploring the financial interests of political parties in England and Wales.

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has banked almost £5m from wealthy donors since 2023, including those with links to fossil fuels, the financial services industry and tax havens. It has also received significant financial investment from the general public in the form of party memberships.

There seems to be a tension between the party’s desire to be seen as a grassroots, ‘by the people, for the people’ movement and its efforts to court the very billionaires its supporters believe they are rallying against.

openDemocracy’s investigations reporter, Ethan Shone, examines this contradiction, discusses what Reform’s future might look like and asks whether the UK media is right to dedicate so much time to the party.

Read Ethan’s investigation here.

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