Nigel Farage has been urged to answer whether he reported claims that Russian spies hacked his phone to expose a secret £5 million 'gift' from a crypto billionaire. The Reform UK leader initially said the money from tycoon Christopher Harborne was for personal security, then claimed it was a 'reward for campaigning for Brexit'.
After the gift was revealed, Reform UK said a forensic probe by counter-espionage experts found hostile state actors 'almost certainly linked to Moscow' had sought to compromise his phone, email and bank accounts. Labour Party chair Anna Turley has now demanded Farage explain whether this was reported to police or a security body.
In a letter to Farage, Turley said: 'I note that public reporting does not appear to confirm that this matter has been reported either to the police or to the National Cyber Security Centre. The alleged crime is an incredibly serious one with potential wider implications for Britain’s national security.' She gave Farage 24 hours to respond, or Labour would take steps to ensure an investigation.
Farage did not declare the gift in the register of members’ interests, having received it just before being elected as an MP in 2024. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is examining whether he breached obligations, and the Electoral Commission is considering its own investigation. Harborne donated £12 million to Reform UK last year.
A Reform spokesperson said the matter 'has been reported to the relevant authorities' but did not specify which. The National Cyber Security Centre said it could not confirm if a report had been made, but stood ready to support any suspected cyber incident.
