Nigel Farage has faced a grilling over a £5million gift from a crypto billionaire, which he failed to declare before becoming an MP. The Reform UK leader said it was “none of your business” how he spends the money, adding he could use it on Ferraris or betting on horseracing.
The gift, from Thailand-based tycoon Christopher Harborne, was given to Farage in 2024 shortly before he announced his general election candidacy. Parliament's sleaze watchdog is investigating the non-declaration, as Commons rules require new MPs to declare relevant gifts from the previous 12 months. The Electoral Commission is also considering whether to investigate.
In a series of interviews, Farage gave varying explanations for the gift. He initially said it was for security, then described it as a reward for his Brexit campaigning. When pressed on LBC, he said: “It's an unconditional gift. I can spend it on Ferraris if I want. That'd be entirely up to me.” He later told TalkTV: “I can spend it on Ferraris if I wish to. None of your business.”
Farage claimed the gift only became public because his phone was hacked by Russian operatives, but has provided no evidence. He told BBC Breakfast the matter was “wholly private” and that he had “done nothing wrong”. He added that voters did not care about the issue, despite the Conservative Party chairman lodging a complaint.
Labour chair Anna Turley said: “This morning Nigel Farage seemed to change his story over his secret £5 million 'gift' every other minute. If Farage has nothing to hide, he should stop dodging questions and come clean.”
