Farage suggests he expects damning verdict on £5m ‘gift’ from parliament’s sleaze watchdog

By Google News Investigations · 2026-11-08T17:34:00+01:00

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Nigel Farage has suggested he believes parliament’s standards commissioner will find against him in the investigation into a £5m gift he received from a crypto billionaire.

The Reform UK leader could be forced to fight for his political life again if the probe results in a suspension of 10 days or more from parliament, triggering a “recall” petition in his Clacton seat.

Asked about the finding, expected imminently, Mr Farage told the BBC: “Do I think the establishment would find against me, the leader of an insurgent party? What a question to ask.”

Mr Farage was referred to the watchdog after he admitted he received the money from Christopher Harborne, a British national based in Thailand who helped bankroll Reform, in 2024, before he became an MP.

The former Ukip leader has insisted there is “no case to answer” over the gift, which he said was not connected to his political activity and was needed to pay for private security for the rest of his life.

He is reported to have received the money before he announced he would stand in Clacton at that year’s general election.

If the probe finds Mr Farage committed a serious breach of parliament’s rules, he could be suspended from the Commons. A suspension of 10 days or more could trigger a recall petition, which could see him forced to fight his Clacton seat again in a by-election.

Under strict Commons rules, new MPs have to register gifts worth more than £300 received in the previous 12 months, except where it “could not be reasonably thought by others” to relate to their political activities.

Mr Farage told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg that if he answered questions on the probe, “I will receive a letter of rebuke from the standards commissioner.

“This is the farce of it. You can say what you like, people can write what they like, I’m not allowed to respond.

“But to hell with it. Yes, I have been interviewed about it, and you know what?

“If Ann Widdecombe’s murder at the age of 78 doesn’t justify me being able to pay for my security to whatever level is needed for the rest of my life, then I don’t know what is.”

Mr Harborne has since become one of two crypto billionaires who donated a total of £72m to Reform.

The £36m each from Ben Delo and Mr Harborne have reignited calls for a cap on donations to political parties.

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Originally published by Google News Investigations