Billionaire Backer Splits Donation Between Rival Parties
In a significant move within British politics, the company owned by billionaire Conservative donor Lord Bamford has donated £200,000 to Nigel Farage's Reform UK. The JCB chair, who has given millions to the Tories and even bankrolled Boris Johnson's wedding, disclosed the substantial donation at the weekend. In a parallel move, his company also gave an identical £200,000 sum to the Conservative Party.
Why a Major Manufacturer is Funding Both Sides
The Staffordshire-based heavy machinery manufacturer justified the dual donations by stating it wished to support parties that "believe in small business". A spokesperson for the family-owned firm elaborated, saying, "As a privately owned British family business, JCB has been backing Britain since 1945 and is supportive of pro-business political parties that create the conditions for these businesses to grow and prosper." The company highlighted its network of 800 suppliers in the UK, the vast majority of which are small to medium-sized enterprises.
JCB itself is a global powerhouse, ranking as the world's third-largest construction equipment company. It operates 22 plants across four continents, employs 19,000 people worldwide, and reported a colossal sales turnover of £5.8bn in 2024. Lord Bamford, who retired as a Conservative peer last year, took over the business his father started in 1975. His family is listed as one of the richest in Britain, with an estimated wealth of £9.5bn according to the Sunday Times.
Deepening Ties Between Bamford and Farage's Party
This financial injection marks the latest step in Lord Bamford's shifting alignment towards closer connections with Reform UK. The relationship has been developing for some time. Last year, he funded an £8,000 helicopter trip for the Reform leader. Furthermore, JCB was a prominent exhibitor at Reform's annual conference in Birmingham last September, where one of its signature yellow diggers was parked inside the hall of the National Exhibition Centre.
This growing connection comes as Nigel Farage actively seeks to build stronger ties with the business community. With his party leading in several opinion polls, this outreach is seen as a strategic effort to demonstrate Reform UK's readiness to potentially form the next UK government. Reform has previously stated that Bamford and Farage are friends.
Lord Bamford is not the only traditional Conservative supporter to recently open his wallet for Reform. The party has also attracted donations from other notable figures, including the financier Jeremy Hosking and Charlie Mullins, the founder of Pimlico Plumbers, who had previously donated to the Tories through his business.
