Political donations

Analysis by Friends of the Earth shows that Reform UK would have retained only 15% of its £26.7m donations last year under a proposed £100,000 cap on political donations. The party's average registered donation was £137,496, nearly six times higher than that of Labour or the Conservatives.

Ministers will introduce measures to increase transparency in political funding, including restrictions on foreign donations. Nigel Farage faces a potential second investigation into gifts he received from a convicted fraudster before becoming an MP.

Christopher Harborne, a Tether stakeholder, donated an undisclosed £5 million to Nigel Farage, adding to scrutiny over Reform UK's funding. Harborne has already contributed over £12 million to the party, making him one of its largest financial backers.

Canadian lawmakers are advancing a bill to prohibit political donations made in cryptocurrency. The proposed legislation aims to regulate campaign financing by banning the use of digital currencies for political contributions.

The High Court of Victoria declared parts of the state's electoral act unconstitutional, striking down donation caps that excluded major parties. The ruling aims to ensure a level playing field in political donations, affecting both the Labor and Coalition parties.

The FBI is reporting an increase in fraudulent political action committees (PACs), warning potential donors to conduct thorough research before contributing. The rise in scam PACs highlights growing concerns about financial fraud in the political donation space.