Rayner says ‘nothing cryptic’ about Farage’s ‘sugar daddy’ donor motives at TUC

TUC Congress 2026 / 13 September 2026 Trade unionists say no to Trump's war in Latin America 13 September 2026 Democracy / 13 September 2026 TUC rejects comparisons between Reform's billionaire donations and trade union funding of Labour 13 September 2026 Housing Crisis / 13 September 2026 ‘Slim chance’ government will meet 1.5m homes target by next election, Rayner acknowledges 13 September 2026 Anti-fascism / 13 September 2026 Solidarity outnumbers hate on Glasgow Green 13 September 2026 Far Right / 13 September 2026 Portsmouth experiences second weekend of anti-immigration protests 13 September 2026 Climate Crisis / 13 September 2026 Activists disrupt British Museum opening of the Bayeux tapestry over BP partnership 13 September 2026 COMMUNITIES Secretary Angela Rayner said yesterday that there was nothing cryptic about Nigel Farage’s crypto-billionaire “sugar daddies’” donation of £72 million.

She addressed TUC Congress in Brighton after the Reform UK leader hit out against the move to retrospectively apply a new law to the twin £36m gifts from Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne.

Ms Rayner said: “If you need a clue about whose side they are really on, they’ve given it to us this weekend.

“Nigel Farage’s sugar daddies made their money in crypto but there’s nothing cryptic about their motives. 

“They know full well that a Reform government would act in their interest, not the public interest.

“Now when these Reform donors say they want nothing, they mean it… nothing to stand in their way and if Farage will do a cameo for £70 just ask yourself what he would do for £70m.”

Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice earlier compared the situation to Labour’s funding from trade unions who “make demands about employment rights regulations, public-sector pay and they get those demands satisfied” on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

Ms Rayner told Congress: “How dare they try to compare money from a couple of crypto billionaires to union members’ subs — the most highly regulated political funding you can have — it couldn’t be more different from a couple of offshore billionaires trying to buy our democracy.

“So let me be clear: we will defend our democracy and our society from any fascist dictator or oligarch who seeks to divide our country and buy our politics but we will never undermine the rights of working people to organise collectively and democratically.”