Nigel Farage has confirmed that Reform UK would 'gladly' accept further donations from billionaire Christopher Harborne, even as he faces an investigation by Parliament's standards commissioner over a £5 million gift from the same donor. Speaking at a rally on Monday evening, Farage told reporters: 'Gladly. Of course we would and we’re very pleased he has re-registered back in the UK.'
Background of the £5m Gift
Harborne, a British-Thai cryptocurrency billionaire, gave Farage £5 million in the run-up to the 2024 General Election, before Farage announced he would stand as an MP. Since then, Harborne has donated more than £25 million to Reform UK. The gift is now under scrutiny by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, who is investigating whether Farage breached rules requiring newly elected MPs to declare relevant gifts or donations received within 12 months of their election.
Farage's Shifting Explanations
Farage has offered multiple explanations for the gift. Initially, he claimed it was for security purposes, to keep him 'safe and secure' for the rest of his life. Later, he described it as 'purely private' and 'not political in any sense at all.' He then said it was a 'reward' for his Brexit campaigning. Most recently, Farage told BBC Breakfast that the gift was an 'unconditional gift' and that he could spend it on 'cars or betting on horse-racing' if he wished. He added: 'It’s entirely up to me. It’s none of your business.'
Investigation and Political Reactions
The investigation was triggered by a complaint from the Conservative Party chairman. Farage has maintained that he has 'done nothing wrong' and that the matter is 'wholly private.' He also claimed that the gift only became public because his phone was hacked by Russian operatives, though he has provided no evidence. Labour chair Anna Turley criticised Farage, saying: 'This morning Nigel Farage seemed to change his story over his secret £5m gift every other minute. First it was a reward for Brexit, then security, and now a wholly private matter. If Farage has nothing to hide, he should stop dodging questions and come clean.'
Farage's Defiance
During a speech at the rally, Farage also criticised what he called 'two-tier policing' and insisted that voters do not care about the donation. He said: 'No one cares, apart from the media. No one cares at all.' He confirmed he does not regret failing to declare the gift, claiming voters would not care if he had £5 million in his bank account. The standards commissioner is expected to report its findings in the coming months.
