Labour Reports Alleged Russian Hacking of Nigel Farage's Phone to Police, Security Services

Labour chair Anna Turley has written to the Metropolitan Police and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) following media reports that Reform leader Nigel Farage's phone and bank accounts were allegedly hacked by Russian state actors.

Reform sources initially claimed that Mr Farage became "intensely suspicious" after the £5 million gift from businessman Christopher Harborne became public. They alleged that forensic analysis of Mr Farage's mobile phone concluded "hostile state actors, almost certainly linked to Moscow, had used 'spear phishing' tactics to compromise his phone, email and bank accounts." Mr Farage himself reportedly told a newspaper that Russia's actions were "deeply concerning and highlight the threat they pose to British security."

Despite these serious allegations, Reform has stated only that it reported the incident to "the relevant authorities," without specifying if this included the Metropolitan Police. Labour's letter to the Met and NCSC explicitly requests an investigation, stating: "If Reform UK have not reported this to you, please treat this letter as a formal report of what appears, on the basis of media reports, to be an allegation of a serious crime."

The NCSC has confirmed it stands "ready to support with any suspected cyber incident that is reported to us." Both Labour and the Conservatives have urged Reform to hand over any evidence it possesses to the UK's security services.

Controversy Surrounds £5 Million Gift

The alleged hacking claims emerge amidst existing controversy surrounding the £5 million gift Mr Harborne gave Mr Farage in April 2024, shortly before Mr Farage announced his candidacy in the general election. Parliamentary rules stipulate that new Members of Parliament must register financial interests and registrable benefits within one month of election, though "purely personal gifts" may be exempt.

However, the rules also advise considering "both the possible motive of the giver and the use to which the gift is to be put," suggesting registration if there is any doubt. The payment was not declared by Mr Farage and came to light only after media reports. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has since launched an investigation into whether Mr Farage breached any regulations.

Mr Farage has maintained that the gift was "purely private" and "wasn't political in any sense at all," asserting that Reform had examined the rules and found no obligation to declare an "unconditional, non-political, personal gift." Mr Harborne stated in April that he gave the money due to "great admiration for the decades of work he had done to achieve Brexit," expecting nothing in return "apart from ensuring his safety."