Labour Reports Alleged Russian Hacking of Nigel Farage's Phone to Police, Security Services
The Labour Party has taken the step of reporting the alleged hacking of Nigel Farage's digital assets to the Metropolitan Police and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This action comes after claims from within Reform, suggesting Russian involvement in accessing information related to a £5 million gift Farage received from a crypto-billionaire.
Reform sources initially briefed a newspaper, alleging that Mr Farage's phone might have been compromised by Russian spies seeking details of the financial donation. While Reform stated they had reported the incident to "relevant authorities," it is understood this did not include the Met Police.
Official Scrutiny Initiated
Anna Turley, Labour Chair, has now formally written to both the Met Police and the NCSC, enquiring whether investigations into the alleged hack are underway. Her letter to the authorities specifically requests that, if Reform UK has not reported the matter, her communication be treated as a formal allegation of a serious crime, given the media reports.
Mr Farage himself told the newspaper that "These actions by Russia are deeply concerning and highlight the threat they pose to British security." However, Labour and Conservative figures have called on Reform to provide any evidence directly to the UK's security services for proper analysis.
The £5 Million Gift Controversy
The hacking allegations are entwined with an ongoing controversy surrounding the £5 million gift Farage received from Christopher Harborne in April 2024, shortly before his announcement to stand in the general election. Parliamentary rules mandate that new MPs register all financial interests and registrable benefits within a month of election, particularly if there is any doubt about their personal or political nature.
This payment did not appear on Mr Farage's declaration of interests until it was publicly reported by a newspaper last month. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has since launched an investigation into whether Mr Farage breached any regulations. Mr Harborne previously stated the money was given due to his "great admiration for the decades of work he had done to achieve Brexit."
