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Billionaire Donors Are Poisoning British Politics – But There Is a Solution

Keir Starmer and Labour had a chance to end a bent system, now being exploited by Reform to allow the mega-rich to buy British politics. They blew it, and more racism and Islamophobia are the result.

Peter Oborne's avatar
Peter Oborne
Sep 16, 2026
∙ Paid

A note from our editor-in-chief: I am delighted to welcome veteran reporter and author Peter Oborne to Zeteo UK as a regular monthly columnist. He will bring his original reporting, deep understanding and searing commentary to both domestic and international affairs. His pieces for Zeteo UK will sit behind a paywall – so please do support independent journalism and become a paid subscriber to Zeteo UK today. - Mehdi

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage at his party conference this month, with deputy leader Richard Tice MP (left) and the party’s home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf. Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images

Shortly before the last election the then-Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner hatched a plan for an outright ban on the foreign money that is poisoning British politics.

Sir Keir Starmer agreed. Former Labour leader Gordon Brown agreed to come down from Scotland to join the press conference where the plan would be announced.

Prestigious foreign policy hub Chatham House was booked to host the event. Gordon Brown had even arranged where to stay the night.

At the last moment, Starmer called it off.

According to journalists Gabriel Pogrund and Patrick Maguire in Get In, a revelatory study of the Starmer project, the Labour leader allowed his fundraiser Lord Alli to veto the idea.

This was a catastrophic moment for Britain. Starmer’s eleventh-hour change of mind gave offshore billionaires a chance to purchase British politics.

They seized it with both hands.

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