Nigel Farage's Davos Presence Sponsored by Billionaire's Family Trust
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has been making waves at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, delivering speeches where he vowed to tax banks and combat globalist agendas. However, the funding behind his high-profile appearance has raised eyebrows, as it has been revealed that his trip was entirely hosted and paid for by the substantial family trust of an Iranian-born billionaire.
Financial Backing from a $10 Billion Trust
The Guardian has learned that Farage's participation in the prestigious Davos event was financed by the HP Trust, which describes itself as the family office of Sasan Ghandehari, boasting a portfolio value exceeding $10 billion, equivalent to approximately £7.4 billion. Farage is listed on the official World Economic Forum programme not only as a member of parliament but also as a representative of this influential trust.
A spokesperson for the trust clarified that Farage was invited to Davos by Ghandehari, a London-based venture capitalist, in an honorary and unpaid advisory capacity. His role focuses on Ghandehari's impact investment portfolio, which emphasises philanthropic activities, particularly in the Middle East region. The trust confirmed that it covered all costs associated with Farage's registration for the forum and his hotel accommodation during his stay in the Swiss resort town.
Connections to a Prominent Business Family
Sasan Ghandehari, now a British citizen, is the son of the late Iranian-Kazakh billionaire Hourieh Peramaa, who once owned one of London's most expensive properties, valued at around £50 million. Ghandehari is known as a London-based art collector and is currently representing a firm involved in a legal dispute with Christie's auction house over the provenance of a Picasso painting previously owned by an individual convicted of a drugs offence.
In response to inquiries, Reform UK stated that Farage does not work for HP Trust and assured that any necessary declarations regarding the funding of his trip would be registered in due course, adhering to transparency protocols.
Further Links to Reform UK Donations Uncovered
This connection to the Ghandehari family is not the only tie between the billionaire's circle and Reform UK. Earlier this year, Electoral Commission data disclosed that a relatively obscure design firm named Interior Architecture Landscape had donated £200,000 to the party in two separate instalments. While the company maintains a low public profile, planning documents from 2015 indicate it acted as a representative for a property linked to the Ghandehari family.
On Friday, Interior Architecture Landscape confirmed to the Guardian that members of the Ghandehari family are indeed clients of the firm. A spokesperson emphasised that the decision to donate £200,000 was made independently by the company's management and was not influenced by the Ghandehari family. The spokesperson for Ghandehari echoed this, stating that while the family are clients, they were not responsible for the political contributions.
Firm's Business Activities and Compliance
The spokesperson for Interior Architecture Landscape provided further details, noting that the company holds approximately £15 million in active contracts across the United Kingdom, encompassing maintenance, refurbishment, and fit-out works for various properties. They confirmed that all members of the company's management, decision-makers, and clients are British citizens, and the firm conducts legitimate business activities within the UK.
Accordingly, any political donations made by the company are fully compliant with applicable electoral law, the spokesperson asserted. They added that the management's decision to donate to Reform UK was based on commercial and values-driven considerations, reflecting the company's belief that the party aims to improve the sectors in which it operates.
Companies House records list John Richard Simpson as the person of significant control for Interior Architecture Landscape, providing a formal point of reference for the firm's governance structure.
