Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK and MP for Clacton, has apologised for 17 breaches of the MPs' code of conduct after failing to declare £380,000 of income on time. The undeclared earnings included payments for his work as a broadcaster for GB News and for social media output on Google and X.
Farage described himself as an 'oddball' who does not use computers, stating that he relied on a senior staff member to submit his income to the register of interests. He accepted full responsibility for the error, blaming 'severe growing pains' as Reform UK was overwhelmed by administration and emails following the 2024 election.
The standards commissioner, Daniel Greenberg, found a high number of breaches of high value but accepted they were inadvertent. Farage had previously admitted failing to register a trip to Florida for a Donald Trump fundraising event.
In his apology, Farage said: 'I'm sorry. I apologise. I fully accept that I'm in the wrong in every way, because if your staff mess up, ultimately you're responsible.' He insisted there was no intention to deceive and that he had nothing to gain by late declarations.
A Labour Party spokesperson criticised Farage, saying he was 'so distracted with tempting failed Tory politicians into his party that he can't even get the basics right.' They added that Labour would tighten rules on MPs' second jobs.
