Farage faces Commons standards probe over undeclared Harborne donation

Mr Farage has said the money was a ‘personal’ gift he received before deciding to stand for Parliament again

Reform UK chief Nigel Farage faces a standards probe after it emerged he had been given £5million by a Thailand-based cryto billionaire - which he dubbed a "reward for campaigning for Brexit"

Nigel Farage is facing significant heat at the moment over a £5m ‘gift’ he failed to declare. Farage faces two separate investigations on the matter, and he’s also facing question about whether he used the money to purchase a £1.4m house in Surrey. On the topic of the house, the BBC have been trying to […] By Willem Moore

The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is looking into Nigel Farage's £5million gift from Thai-based billionaire Christopher Harborne, which he did not declare

The Reform UK leader insisted he 'cannot be bought by anyone' following the 'gift' by Thai-based entrepreneur Christopher Harborne

The Reform UK leader insisted he 'cannot be bought by anyone' following the 'gift' by Thai-based entrepreneur Christopher Harborne

Reform UK chief Nigel Farage faces a standards probe after it emerged he had been given £5million by a Thailand-based cryto billionaire - which he dubbed a 'reward for campaigning for Brexit'

Reform UK leader offers new explanation for gift, which is under investigation, having first said it was for his securityUK politics live – latest updatesNigel Farage has provided a new explanation for why he accepted a £5m gift from a Reform UK donor in the weeks before he announced he would stand in the last general election.In an interview on Thursday, Farage said the money was a “reward” for campaigning for Brexit. Previously, he had said the gift was given for security purposes, to keep him “safe and secure” for the rest of his life. Continue reading...

Nigel Farage is under investigation over whether he should have declared the 5 million pound donation from a cryptocurrency billionaire, though he says it was an exempt gift.

The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is examining Farage’s undisclosed £5 million gift from Tether investor Christopher Harborne.

Revelation comes as Reform UK leader faces parliamentary investigation into money received from crypto billionaireUK politics live – latest updatesNigel Farage bought a £1.4m property in cash shortly after receiving a £5m personal gift from the crypto billionaire, Christopher Harborne.The revelation comes after parliament’s standards watchdog confirmed separately that the Reform UK leader was facing a formal investigation over the gift from the Thai-based businessman. Continue reading...

The Conservative Party referred the case against Mr. Farage, the leader of a right-wing populist party in Britain, to a parliamentary watchdog.

Britain’s parliamentary watchdog is examining whether Nigel Farage broke disclosure rules after accepting a multimillion-pound gift from Reform UK’s biggest donor before mounting a political comeback.

If found guilty of violating the Parliamentary code of conduct, the Reform UK party leader could be suspended from the House of Commons.

Britain’s anti-immigrant party Reform UK said on Wednesday it was talking to the parliamentary watchdog, following a report that its leader, Nigel Farage, was being investigated over a 5 million pound ($6.75m) gift which he did not declare. After the BBC reported that Reform was being investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over the donation, Reform, the biggest winner in local elections last week, confirmed it was discussing it but said no rules had been broken. “He (Farage) has always been clear that this was a personal, unconditional gift and no rules were broken,” a spokesman for the party said. “We look forward to this being put to bed once and for all.” Farage has said he accepted the donation from the Thailand-based billionaire and crypto investor Christopher Harborne to pay for his personal security before he announced his candidacy in the 2024 national election that brought him into parliament. He said it was not a political donation, but rival political parties in April accused him of breaking rules, which require members of parliament to declare donations received in the year preceding an election within one month of taking office. Opponents say the funding from an overseas billionaire demonstrates a gulf between the image Farage cultivates as a man of the people willing to take on the establishment, and his dependence on wealthy donors. The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner’s Office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Investigation highlights scrutiny of Reform’s donations If the investigation finds Farage committed a serious breach of parliamentary declaration rules, he could be suspended from the House of Commons for a period of time. A suspension of 10 days or more could trigger a recall petition, potentially forcing him to stand in a special election for his seat. Reform has topped every national opinion poll since early last year, prompting increased scrutiny of the party’s sources of funding. About two-thirds of Reform’s funding last year came from Harborne, according to Electoral Commission data. Anna Turley, the chair of the governing Labour Party, said Farage had refused to answer legitimate questions. “It’s one rule for them, and another for everyone else,” she said. “They are not on your side.” Reform’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, said at the weekend that voters already knew about the gift and had still chosen to vote in large numbers for the party, which made sweeping gains in elections for local government in England and devolved parliaments in Scotland and Wales. Before the 2024 election, Farage had said he did not intend to stand as a candidate. He changed his mind about a month before the vote. Earlier this year, Farage apologised after he was found by the parliamentary authorities to have inadvertently committed 17 breaches of rules on declaring financial interests including payments from Google and Elon Musk’s X Corp. Parliament’s Standards Commissioner concluded the failures were unintentional and caused by staffing and other administrative issues.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is facing an investigation by a House of Commons watchdog over a £5 million gift from a party donor.

Reform UK leader insists the sum did not have to be declared but there are also other aspects of his finances to be addressedFarage faces inquiry over £5m giftNigel Farage has been dogged by questions about his finances since the Guardian revealed he received a £5m gift from a donor in 2024.Although he insists the gift did not have to be declared, several important questions remain unanswered. Continue reading...

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is facing an investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner over a gift of £5m he […] The post Nigel Farage faces parliamentary watchdog probe over £5m gift from crypto billionaire appeared first on Left Foot Forward: Leading the UK's progressive debate.

The Reform UK leader received the gift from Thailand-based cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne in 2024.

The Commons sleaze watchdog is launching an investigation into Nigel Farage over a £5million gift from a party donor.

Britain's parliamentary watchdog will begin an investigation into whether Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, breached its rules by accepting a 5 million pound ($9.31 million) gift which he did not declare.

UK Reform Party leader Nigel Farage is reportedly facing a probe over an undeclared donation from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne that he received before becoming an MP in 2024.

Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards opens probe declared gift from Thailand-based cryptocurrency investor

The Reform UK leader received the gift from Thailand-based cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne in 2024.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage attending the State Opening of Parliament.Nigel Farage is facing a sleaze probe over accusations he failed to declare a £5 million donation from a crypto billionaire.The Reform UK leader has repeatedly insisted that he has done nothing wrong over the gift he received from Christopher Harborne before he became an MP.Farage has said it was an unconditional gift which he spent on bolstering his personal security.He has also claimed that as he was not an MP at the time, there was no need for him to declare after he was elected.But it has emerged that the parliamentary standards commissioner has decided to begin an inquiry into whether Farage breached the House of Commons code of conduct.Parliamentary rules state any benefits received 12 months before taking office should be declared, depending on whether it was for political or personal purposes.The official rules say: “If there is any doubt, the benefit should be registered.”Farage was cornered by Sky News’s Cathy Newman while out campaigning before last week’s elections.Referring to his bodyguards, she said: “Mr Farage, is this what £5 million in security buys? These guys here?”“You’d be surprised,” the politician said mysteriously, as he walked off.“Oh really? Is it expensive?” Newman asked.“What do you think?” He hit back.“How long is the £5 million going to last, Mr Farage?” She asked.“Hopefully until I’m dead,” he replied.Following the politician as he tried to retreat to his car, Newman said: “Mr Farage, why won’t you declare the donation? You’re a public figure, you need the donation because you’re in politics.”When there was no answer, the journalist said: “Mr Farage, Christopher Harborne gave you the party £9 million last year, £3 million this year, £5 million to you personally.“He’s not even based in the UK. He’s interfering with democracy, isn’t he?”Farage ignored the questions and simply got into his car.Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.Related...Nigel Farage Cornered By Cathy Newman Over Reform's Wealthy Crypto Donor'Farage Is Frit': Reform Leader Slammed For Pulling Out Of BBC's Sunday With Laura KuenssbergFiona Bruce Clashes With Zia Yusuf Over Farage's £5 Million Gift From Crypto Billionaire

Reform UK leader received the donation from Christopher Harborne, a Thai-based billionaire who helped bankroll Brexit

Reform UK leader failed to declare donation from Christopher Harborne in run-up to 2024 general election

The Reform leader took the cash from Christopher Harborne in 2024 - and claims he uses the money for security

Watchdog to examine whether Reform UK leader should have declared donation received before entering parliamentNigel Farage is facing a formal investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog over a £5m gift from the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.The Reform UK leader received the money weeks before announcing he would stand as a candidate in the 2024 general election. Continue reading...