Reform UK announced the launch of a mobile game titled "Small Boat Scramble" on Monday, September 14, 2026. The game permits players to control a Royal Navy vessel with the objective of stopping migrant boats from reaching Britain. The party stated that the player with the highest score over the next month will receive a £5,000 prize. Alongside the game, the party released "SmallBoatWatch," an app designed to track daily migrant crossings in the English Channel.
The product launches coincide with reports regarding two donations to Reform UK totaling £72 million. Crypto billionaires Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne each donated £36 million. These contributions have drawn scrutiny due to the Representation of the People Bill, a piece of legislation intended to limit political donations from overseas residents. The government has indicated the bill will be backdated to March 25, 2026.
A spokesperson for the Labour Party characterized the game as a "stunt and a gimmick" intended to distract from "sleaze and scandal" related to Reform UK's finances and police investigations. In response, Reform UK home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf said the app provides the public with facts regarding the scale of migrant crossings and described the game as "a bit of fun with a very serious issue."
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, stated on Monday that the donations are "100 per cent compliant" with current laws. However, he acknowledged that the donations might not be acceptable under the new legislation once it is enacted. Mr. Farage declined to confirm the details of their residency. He added that if the donations were deemed impermissible retrospectively, Reform UK would call for a cap on trade union funding, which is a source of revenue for the Labour Party.
Mr. Delo had been based in Hong Kong but stated in April he would move back to the UK to bypass limits on foreign donors. Mr. Harborne was resident in Thailand before reportedly registering to vote in Hampshire in June. The Representation of the People Bill would also apply to donations made within the first year of a donor moving back to the UK, which has raised questions about whether these specific contributions will remain legal under the new framework.