Reform UK leader Nigel Farage faces mounting pressure to provide evidence for his claim that a state-sponsored Russian hack led to the disclosure of details of a £5 million gift he received from crypto entrepreneur Christopher Harborne. Reform has said “counter-espionage experts” analysed Farage’s phone and other accounts and concluded his phone, email and bank accounts were “compromised by hostile actors, almost certainly linked to Moscow,” using spear phishing tactics. However, multiple security figures and commentators question whether Farage has offered any supporting proof. Ciaran Martin, a former head of the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre and part of GCHQ, describes the allegation as “entirely unsubstantiated,” saying there is “a shred of evidence” so far. Other outlets report the claim as unsubstantiated and note that security specialists are waiting for further details.
Separately, Reform MP Danny Kruger declines to say whether Farage should provide evidence to UK security services, describing the issue as “private.” Labour and Conservatives press for clarification, citing the national security implications of alleging Russian state involvement in a leak tied to the Guardian’s reporting on the gift.
