Reform UK plans union to channel foreign crypto donations amid Labour restrictions

The UK government, led by Andy Burnham, responded to two cryptocurrency billionaires’ £72 million donations by proposing new residency requirements that would retroactively invalidate the gifts. In reaction, Reform UK announced plans to establish a certified trade union, tentatively called the Allied Computer & Crypto Workers Union (ACCAW), to act as a conduit for the foreign contributions. Arron Banks, a senior figure in the party, said the union would represent workers in IT, AI and crypto sectors and would comply with Labour’s upcoming legislation.

He also floated a “Red Wave” tactic of enrolling Reform supporters into existing unions to engineer a reverse takeover, reminiscent of the 2018 “blue wave” that flooded the Conservative Party with former UKIP members. Internal polling, according to Banks, shows strong support for Reform among union members, and the party aims to mobilise this base through sustained campaigning.