Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, is facing calls for a parliamentary probe after failing to declare a £5 million gift from a crypto billionaire. The sum was given to him by Thailand-based tycoon Christopher Harborne shortly before Farage was elected as an MP in 2024.
Parliamentary rules require new MPs to declare political donations and gifts received in the year before entering Parliament. However, the £5 million does not appear in the members' register of interests. Farage claims the money was not a political gift but was intended to cover his personal security costs after the Home Office refused his requests for protection.
Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake has referred Farage to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, stating: “As a new Member of Parliament, Mr Farage was obliged to report to the House of Commons all political donations and political gifts he received during the previous 12 months. This £5 million raises serious questions.”
Labour’s Anna Turley added: “Nigel Farage appears to have broken the rules again by failing to declare this cash from his billionaire backer. It’s not good enough for Reform to gloss over these egregious acts and further erode public trust in politics.”
Harborne, also known as Chakrit Sakunkrit, has donated £22 million to Reform since 2019. At the time of the £5 million gift in 2024, Farage had stated he had no intention of standing for Parliament. Reform UK insists the rules have been followed, describing the sum as “a personal unconditional gift.”
