Reform UK calls for probe into donations linked to Sam Bankman-Fried

Reform UK chair Lee Anderson has called for an investigation into political donations received by UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting. The request follows reports of approximately $50,000 in donations made to Streeting by the now-defunct think tank, Labour for the Long Term (LLT), in 2022 and 2023.

Investigations suggest a financial connection between LLT and former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. Reports indicate that LLT founder David Lawrence received a $675,000 gift from Bankman-Fried in July 2022, shortly before LLT made its largest donations to Streeting in August 2022.

Streeting has maintained that all donations were properly declared and stated he had no contact with Bankman-Fried, who is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence. Lawrence has also denied that the funds provided to Streeting originated from Bankman-Fried, claiming they came from a separate pool of money. The situation has raised questions regarding UK regulations and potential loopholes involving unincorporated associations acting as conduits for funds.