Labour has accused Nigel Farage of attempting to evade scrutiny as the Reform UK leader continues to face questions over a £5 million gift from a cryptocurrency billionaire received shortly before the 2024 general election.
Gift from Christopher Harborne
The donation from Christopher Harborne, who is based in Thailand, came just weeks before Farage announced his intention to stand for parliament. The gift was not initially disclosed, prompting criticism from political opponents.
On Sunday, Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, sought to downplay the issue during an interview on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme. Tice insisted the money was a personal gift for security purposes and did not require declaration under electoral rules.
“Nigel was not involved in politics at the time. He’s complied with all the laws,” Tice said. “I trust Nigel’s judgment, and he’s complied with the rules, and thank heavens a wonderful person who’s given that gift is utterly determined to keep Nigel safe and secure.”
Labour’s Response
Labour party chair Anna Turley argued that serious questions remain unanswered. “Once again, Farage and his MPs clearly believe there’s one rule for them and another for everyone else,” she stated. “He didn’t just take the cash and fail to declare it. He announced a crypto tax cut policy that would directly benefit his secret donor.”
The Electoral Commission is expected to announce shortly whether it will launch a formal investigation into the gift and whether it breached electoral law, which could result in a fine.
Reform UK’s Local Election Success
Despite the controversy, Reform UK made significant gains in this week’s local elections, winning more than 1,400 council seats across England, coming second in the Welsh parliament elections, and tying for second with Labour in Scotland. Farage hailed the results as a “historic shift in British politics.”
Tice argued that voters were aware of the gift and still chose to support the party. “The reality is, voters have been made aware of this and then said we want more Nigel, we want more Reform leadership, more Reform councils,” he said.
He also claimed that “millions of British voters were enormously grateful” for the money. “Frankly, £5m is probably not enough. The dangers to his life grow. It’s absolutely vital we keep Nigel safe. The state wouldn’t provide the funding, and this was a personal gift based around safety and security.”
Media Accusations
Tice accused the media of trying to smear the party by asking questions about the gift. “The problem that we have is an establishment media that is going to try anything all the time to do us down,” he said.
Potential Parliamentary Scrutiny
The parliamentary commissioner for standards could consider whether the gift breached the MPs’ code of conduct. If found in breach, Farage could face a formal apology or suspension from parliament. A suspension of more than 10 days could trigger a recall petition in his Clacton constituency.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the Observer: “There are so many questions that Nigel Farage has to answer in relation to this, and there is a reason that he’s running away from those questions. I think he should be subject to more scrutiny by parliament, by the media, by the public in relation to this.”
Farage has stated he did not initially intend to stand as a prospective MP but reversed his decision in June 2024, weeks after receiving the personal gift from Harborne. Parliamentary rules require that any benefits for political purposes received in the 12 months before taking up office as an MP be declared.
Harborne also donated £9 million to Reform UK last year, the largest single donation by a living person to a British political party.
