The secretive billionaire bankrolling Nigel Farage

This episode of 'Today in Focus' investigates the secretive billionaire Chris Harbourn—known in Thailand as Chakrit Sakankrit—who has become the single largest political donor in modern UK history. Through exclusive reporting by The Guardian's Tom Burgess, the episode reveals that Harbourn, a former McKinsey consultant and early cryptocurrency investor, has funneled an estimated £22 million into Nigel Farage's political projects, including the Brexit Party and Reform UK. His financial support was pivotal in the 2019 European elections and Boris Johnson’s 'Get Brexit Done' campaign, and he continues to wield outsized influence through massive donations, including a record-breaking £9 million in 2025. Despite his extreme privacy and denials of political influence, Harbourn’s deep ties to the crypto world—especially his stake in the stablecoin giant Tether—suggest a strategic motive: to shape UK policy in favor of cryptocurrency. The episode explores the ethical and democratic implications of a foreign donor with no tax obligations in the UK wielding such power, and raises urgent questions about the future of democracy in an era of hyper-wealthy, ideologically driven mega-donors. The final segment underscores the fragility of political independence when a party relies on a single, unaccountable benefactor. Key takeaways include: 1) Chris Harbourn is the primary financier of Reform UK, funding two-thirds of its operations; 2) His wealth stems from early investments in Bitcoin and Ethereum, and a major stake in Tether; 3) Despite denying any political agenda, his donations correlate closely with pro-crypto stances by recipients like Farage; 4) The UK is poised to cap foreign donations at £100,000, signaling growing concern over foreign influence; 5) The episode highlights the existential risk to democracy when political outcomes depend on a single, unaccountable billionaire.