Farage Received £5 Million From Donor Christopher Harborne Before Becoming MP
Nigel Farage, now a Member of Parliament for Clacton and leader of Reform UK, received GBP#5 million from British cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne in early 2024. Farage disclosed the payment to The Telegraph, stating it was for personal protection to ensure his "safety and security for the rest of my life".
Harborne, who resides in Thailand, previously donated GBP#9 million to Reform UK in 2023, representing the largest individual donation to a UK political party by a living person. The separate GBP#5 million given directly to Farage reportedly preceded his announcement on 4 June 2024 that he would stand for election and assume leadership of Reform UK.
Parliamentary Rules Under Scrutiny
Both the Labour and Conservative parties have accused Farage of failing to declare this substantial gift in the Commons Register of Interests. The Conservative Party has formally referred the matter to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner. Labour Party Chair Anna Turley asserted that Farage "appears to have broken the rules again by failing to declare this cash from his billionaire backer." Conservative Party Chair Kevin Hollinrake added, "Why does Reform think the rules don't apply to them? This stinks and Reform should come clean now."
Farage's team maintains that the gift, being personal and received before his election, did not necessitate declaration. A Reform UK spokesperson stated, "This was a personal unconditional gift that was given before he was elected. We are confident everything has been declared in accordance with the rules." However, the Commons code of conduct stipulates that new MPs must register all current financial interests and any registrable benefits (excluding earnings) received within 12 months before their election, within one month of their election.
Farage also recounted a firebomb attack on his home in early 2025, where a lit device was pushed through his letterbox. Police investigated the incident but have not identified suspects. Farage indicated that Harborne's concern for his safety stemmed from a 2019 incident where he was targeted with a milkshake while campaigning.
