Keir Starmer announces ban on crypto donations in blow to Reform

Sir Keir Starmer has announced a temporary ban on cryptocurrency donations to political parties following a government review into political interference, in a major blow to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. The government will also cap donations from British citizens living abroad who are still on the electoral register in line with the review by Philip Rycroft, a former home secretary. Sir Keir told MPs the review set out the “stark threats posed by illicit finance” as he hit out at Mr Farage, whose party has accepted a number of crypto donations. In the last year, Reform received about £12m from the Thai-based British investor Christopher Harborne, as well as a series of smaller donations from overseas. Watch more on Independent TV: https://tinyurl.com/yc7ukx9n The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Independent Find us on social: TikTok /   / independent   Instagram /   / the.independent   X (Twitter) /   / independent   Facebook /   / theindependentonline   Download the iOS & Android app: https://tinyurl.com/2s3ts5dh Sign up to our newsletters: https://tinyurl.com/2bmw565x Help to support truly independent journalism. Every dollar you contribute will directly fund additional special reports and investigations from a free-thinking, award-winning newsroom you can trust: https://www.independent.co.uk/donations