Key facts
- Nigel Farage received a £5 million gift from British businessman Christopher Harborne.
- Farage described the donation as a "purely private matter" and "not any of your business."
- He stated he was not in politics in 2024 when the donation was made.
- Farage defended his stance by contrasting it with Keir Starmer's receipt of donations.
- Farage expressed no regret for the Brexit vote, emphasizing independence and self-governance.
Nigel Farage has stated that a £5 million gift from British Thai-based businessman Christopher Harborne is a "purely private matter" and "not any of your business." The Reform UK leader defended the donation, arguing that he was not in politics at the time and that it was not hypocritical to accept it, especially in contrast to Keir Starmer's receipt of donations.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Farage asserted that he did not believe there was any rule requiring him to declare the gift, though he acknowledged it was being investigated by standards bodies. He also suggested that even if London became a hub for crypto trading, it would only be a small part of the global market and would not directly influence prices.
When questioned about potentially returning the money if parliamentary rules were found to be broken, Farage reiterated that it was "not any of your business." He previously described the donation as a "reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years."
On the 10th anniversary of the Brexit vote, Farage expressed no regret, emphasizing the benefits of independence and self-governance. He criticized the establishment for not fully accepting or implementing the public's vote, which he believes has led to political instability.
Separately, Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds commented on the rearrangement of an EU summit and expressed support for Andy Burnham to succeed Keir Starmer as leader.