"Reform's new mega-donor Christopher Harborne is based in Thailand and is rarely seen with Farage in the UK. But he was at a party sponsored by Reform supporter Arron Banks and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon's anti-China campaign in January, having bankrolled Farage's three-day trip to celebrate Trump's return to the White House at a cost of 27,000. Harborne has given generously to Farage before, donating 10m to the Brexit party at the 2019 election when Farage stood down many of his candidates against Tories."
"He switched his allegiance in 2022, giving 1.5m to the Conservatives and later 1m to Johnson's office after he stood down as prime minister. At this point, it was not clear whether Farage would again enjoy the businessman's largesse, so the 9m for Reform is a huge coup for the party. Harborne has described himself as an intensely private person although in footage produced by his Thai wellness retreat he talks about pet interests such as longevity and how to live well in old age."
"In a 2024 defamation claim over a Wall Street Journal story about his involvement with a cryptocurrency called Tether, Harborne's legal documents said: He does not proselytise his views, he does not give speeches or media interviews, and he does not maintain active social media accounts. Some of his charitable donations have been made in private, such as purchasing schoolbooks for remote tribes in Thailand, where he has lived for more than 20 years, taken citizenship and adopted a Thai name, Chakrit Sakunkrit."
Christopher Harborne is a Thailand-based, intensely private mega-donor who has contributed large sums to British political causes, including 9m to Reform UK. Harborne previously donated 10m to the Brexit party in 2019, 1.5m to the Conservatives in 2022 and 1m to Boris Johnson's office after he stood down. Harborne bankrolled Nigel Farage's 27,000 three-day trip to Trump's inauguration and appeared at events linked to Arron Banks and Steve Bannon. Harborne lives in Thailand, has taken Thai citizenship as Chakrit Sakunkrit, has made private charitable donations, and faces questions about the origins of his wealth amid a 2024 defamation claim.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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