The British government has announced plans to amend electoral legislation to introduce tougher residency requirements for political donors, a move that could retroactively block £72 million in donations pledged to Reform UK (the right-wing populist party led by Nigel Farage). The funds — two separate £36 million gifts from cryptocurrency billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, both previously based overseas in Hong Kong and Thailand respectively — were announced at the weekend and would represent an unprecedented financial advantage for the party ahead of the next general election. Ministers say amendments to the Representation of the People Bill, currently passing through the House of Lords, will require donors to demonstrate genuine and ongoing physical presence in the UK, in line with existing government policy on tax residency, with Farage himself acknowledging his party could fall foul of the new rules.