Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been accused of prioritising lucrative foreign trips and VIP freebies over his duties to his Clacton constituents, an exclusive investigation reveals.
Since being elected as MP for Clacton in July 2024, Farage has accepted gifts and travel worth over £110,000 from donors and foreign governments, flying more than 56,000 miles globally. This includes a £10,000 trip to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, funded by the UAE government, and over £20,000 from speaking engagements in the United States.
Globe-Trotting on the Donor Dime
An analysis of Farage's Register of Interests shows a pattern of high-value travel. In December 2025, he jetted to Abu Dhabi where the emirate's government provided £9,000 for two paddock passes at the Yas Marina Circuit and a further £1,000 for hotels. Farage attended the Formula 1 season finale alongside celebrities like Katy Perry and rubbed shoulders with Alpine F1 team principal Flavio Briatore.
The records state the purpose was "to attend the F1 and for meetings." It is understood he watched the race with billionaire Reform donor Nick Candy, with the pair later meeting senior Emirati figures to seek party donations.
This trip was one of at least sixteen separate flights Farage has taken for engagements since the election, with the total donor-funded bill for flights and hotels for him and his team exceeding £110,000. Other trips include a veterans' event at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago in Florida, with flights covered by businessman Bassim Haidar.
Clacton Constituents Feel Ignored
While Farage was in Abu Dhabi, significant issues were unfolding in his Essex constituency. Days before the race, the University of Essex announced the closure of its Southend Campus, putting around 400 jobs at risk. On the very day of the Grand Prix, allegations surfaced that Farage had broken campaign spending rules during the 2024 election, though the Electoral Commission and Essex Police later declined to investigate.
Local Labour figures and residents have voiced strong criticism. Ivan Henderson, Labour's Deputy Council Leader of Tendring District Council and a former MP for the area, said: "Mr Farage should be dealing with the needs of his constituents and the problems they are facing... He should not be focusing on boosting his own bank account and jetting off on expensive freebies."
Peter Kotz, Deputy Leader of the Labour Group, added that Farage visits for "photo opportunities" but does little to help in one of the UK's most deprived areas. Retired resident Jonathan Robert, 64, claimed he had never seen his MP and said Farage "uses Clacton for his own political purposes."
A Pattern of Absence and Accusations
The criticism extends to Farage's overall commitment. His register does not include trips he paid for personally, meaning his actual travel mileage is likely far higher than the documented 56,000 miles.
Constituents Heather and Tom Wade, both in their 80s, gave a damning assessment. Heather Wade stated: "He's a rude, ignorant man... He's not down here with the people enough. He's out to line his own pocket." Tom Wade commented that there was "not enough there for me at the moment" to earn his vote.
Farage, who earns a salary of £93,904 as an MP and has been nicknamed "Nine Jobs Nigel" for his external work, has previously defended his right to undertake speaking engagements. However, the scale and source of the funded travel has placed his priorities under intense scrutiny, with opponents arguing his prime duty is to represent the people of Clacton, not foreign interests.
