Key facts
- Nigel Farage was questioned by the standards commissioner over a £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.
- The interview, conducted last month, is a sign the investigation is nearing a conclusion.
- Farage maintains the gift was for his personal security and did not need to be declared.
- The rules state financial support related to an MP's job needs to be registered if given in the 12 months before entering parliament.
- Reform UK is undergoing a major reorganization of its staffing.
- The party is also facing an internal investigation into potential illegal foreign donations by two staff members.
Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has been interviewed by the standards commissioner as part of an investigation into whether he properly declared a £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. The interview, which took place last month, suggests the investigation is nearing its conclusion.
Farage maintains that the substantial sum was a personal gift intended for his security and therefore did not require declaration. However, rules stipulate that financial support related to an MP's role must be registered if provided within the 12 months preceding their entry into parliament.
The investigation follows a Guardian report in May that revealed Harborne had given Farage the £5 million shortly before the 2024 general election. If the commissioner finds a serious breach of rules, the matter could be passed to the standards committee, potentially leading to sanctions that could trigger a byelection in Farage's Clacton constituency.
Separately, Reform UK is undergoing a significant staffing shake-up at its headquarters. This comes amid an internal investigation into two party officials, James Orr and Dan Jukes, concerning allegations of encouraging illegal foreign donations, which is also subject to a police inquiry. The party is reportedly working out how to allocate £72 million in donations from Harborne and another crypto billionaire, Ben Delo, prompting calls for donation caps from political rivals.