Nigel Farage has offered a new explanation for accepting a £5m gift from a Reform UK donor, saying it was a “reward” for his decades-long campaign for Brexit. The Reform UK leader had previously stated the money was for security purposes, but in an interview with the Sun on Thursday, he described it as an unconditional reward for his Brexit efforts.
The gift, from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, is under investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner to determine whether it should have been declared. Farage initially claimed the money was “purely private” and “wasn’t political in any sense at all”. Harborne had said he gave the money “to support Nigel’s security not just now but for the rest of his life”.
Farage dismissed concerns about the investigation, saying he was “not the least bit concerned”. He also rejected suggestions that the gift influenced his return to politics, stating, “I can’t be bought by anybody.” The £5m was first revealed by the Guardian.
The change in Farage's account follows reports that he bought a house for £1.4m in cash in May 2024, weeks after receiving the gift. Labour has called for a full explanation, with party chair Anna Turley saying, “Farage took £5m from a crypto billionaire, tried to cover it up, and bought an expensive house after taking the money.”
A Reform UK spokesperson said the property purchase began before the gift, with proof of funds already provided. The matter is also being examined under rule 5 of the MPs' code of conduct, which requires declaration of financial interests within one month of election.
