Nigel Farage has alleged that Russian spies hacked his mobile phone to access details of a controversial £5 million donation he received from a cryptocurrency billionaire. The Reform UK leader reportedly became deeply suspicious that foreign state actors had compromised him after the donation from Thai-based entrepreneur Christopher Harborne was made public last month.
Forensic Analysis Reveals Suspected State-Sponsored Hack
A party source disclosed that only four individuals worldwide knew about the donation, prompting Farage to submit his phone for forensic examination by counter-espionage specialists. The experts concluded that hostile state actors, almost certainly linked to Moscow, employed spear phishing tactics to infiltrate his phone, email, and bank accounts. The attack bore all the hallmarks of a nation-state actor using destabilisation techniques ahead of the local elections.
Spear phishing involves hackers disguising themselves as acquaintances to trick victims into installing malware that scours devices for sensitive data. The source added that Farage likely angered Russian President Vladimir Putin through his support for NATO, while Harborne would be on Moscow's radar for accompanying former Prime Minister Boris Johnson on a trip to Ukraine following the 2022 invasion.
Farage Responds to Security Threat
Mr Farage told The Mail on Sunday: 'These actions by Russia are deeply concerning and highlight the threat they pose to British security.' He maintains that he had no obligation to declare the gift as it 'wasn't political in any sense' since it funded his private security before he became an MP. The donation story first emerged in The Guardian, and Farage questioned the newspaper's judgment, suggesting Reform UK might reconsider cooperation with them.
The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is investigating whether Farage breached Commons rules by accepting the gift shortly before standing for Parliament in 2024. Potential penalties include an apology or suspension, which could trigger a recall petition and by-election.
Wider Implications and Political Reactions
Defence Secretary John Healey has urged Farage to clarify whether any of the £5 million could have been derived from transactions with Russian state-linked energy companies. In a letter, Healey sought assurances that Harborne's aviation fuel company, AML Global, complied with sanctions on Russian energy, and questioned whether the war against Iran might boost its revenues.
If the hacking claims are substantiated, Farage joins a list of senior politicians allegedly targeted by hostile state spies. In 2022, The Mail on Sunday reported that Liz Truss was hacked by suspected Russian agents, compromising sensitive information on Ukraine military strategy. Boris Johnson also experienced a leak of over 2,000 files from his time in Downing Street, which included a reference he wrote for Harborne in October 2023.
A phone used by Farage's senior adviser, George Cottrell, is believed to have been critically compromised while he worked for a pro-NATO party in Montenegro. US spy sources reportedly informed Cottrell that Moscow was behind the hack.
The Guardian contested Farage's allegations, stating: 'This is an absurd claim and an attempt to deflect attention from legitimate scrutiny of his financial affairs. Nigel Farage is once again hiding behind a baseless attack on the media rather than facing up to scrutiny from journalists and politicians.'
