Rupert Lowe has issued a fierce three-word warning to Nigel Farage, vowing that his Restore Britain party will throw "everything it has" at ending Farage's Commons career if a by-election is triggered in Clacton. The threat comes as Farage faces an investigation by Parliament's standards commissioner over a £5 million undeclared gift from crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne, received before the 2024 general election.
By-Election Threat Over Undeclared Donation
If the commissioner, Daniel Greenberg, recommends a suspension of 10 days or more, a recall petition could be launched in Farage's Clacton-on-Sea constituency. Should 10% of voters sign the petition, Farage would lose his seat, triggering a by-election in which he could still stand. Farage won Clacton comfortably in 2024 with a majority of 8,405.
Lowe told the Mail on Sunday that Restore Britain is now established nationally and has a "strong base" in constituencies like Clacton. He added: "If there is a by-election there, or indeed any neglected seaside town, we will fight it with everything that we have." Reform UK has been approached for comment.
Farage's Denial and Defence
Farage has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, insisting the gift was not connected to his political activity. On Tuesday, June 23, he acknowledged he could face a parliamentary sanction. He told the BBC it was a "wholly private matter" but conceded that "the standards commissioner may take a different view."
Under the rules at the time, new MPs were required to register gifts worth more than £300 received in the previous 12 months, unless the gift "could not be reasonably thought by others" to relate to political activities. Farage has insisted the £5m was purely personal, intended for private security for the rest of his life, and has suggested it was a reward for his Brexit campaigning.
Public Concern and Political Pressure
A poll by 38 Degrees and Survation in May found 68% of the public were concerned about the gift, including about half of current Reform voters. When asked how much of the money he had spent, Farage told the BBC: "It's none of your business." He also said "no one cares, apart from the media" about the gift.
Pressure intensified this week after Labour called on the Financial Conduct Authority to investigate whether Farage's advocacy for cryptocurrency has benefited Harborne. Harborne, based in Thailand and also known as Chakrit Sakunkrit, has donated over £25 million to Reform UK. He was an early Bitcoin investor and reportedly owns a stake in Tether, a stablecoin issuer. Farage and his deputy Richard Tice met Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey in October 2025 to discuss cryptocurrency.
Labour's Call for Investigation
Anna Turley, chairwoman of the Labour Party, wrote to the FCA this week, asking it to probe whether Farage's public statements about Tether and other cryptocurrencies were intended to benefit his donor. She said: "Despite what Farage may think, the British public have a right to know who is bankrolling a man seeking high office and what influence, if any, that money buys. The fact he thinks it's not the public's business to know shows what utter contempt he truly holds for the British people."
