Reform UK will launch legal fight against any Labour attempt to block £72m donations

Reform UK is preparing for a potential court battle with Labour over £72million in donations from two wealthy cryptocurrency investors, as ministers move to tighten rules governing political funding from overseas.

Nigel Farage's party has indicated it intends to continue using the money donated by Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo, despite proposed legislation which could retrospectively restrict such contributions.

Senior party figures insist the donations were lawful when made, and argue the planned legislation should not affect them.

The party has also pointed to its previous success in challenging Government decisions in court, including Labour's attempt to postpone local elections.

The dispute centres on plans to introduce a £100,000 limit on donations from overseas electors.

The Government intends to apply the new rules retrospectively to people who registered in the UK after March 25, the date an independent review recommended introducing an overseas donation cap.

The proposed changes are aimed at preventing wealthy donors from moving to Britain shortly before donating large sums to political parties.

Ministers have argued tighter rules are necessary to prevent potentially malign foreign influence from entering the British political system.

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