Last week, Nigel Farage was celebrating Reform UK's successes in the May elections and boasting about his chances of becoming prime minister. However, a week in politics can be long, and the party leader now faces scrutiny over a £5m gift and his extensive property holdings.
Official Inquiry Opened
On Thursday, the parliamentary standards commissioner announced an official inquiry into the money Farage accepted from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. The inquiry adds to mounting questions about Farage's finances.
The £1.4m Surrey House
Farage is also facing questions about a £1.4m house he bought in Surrey in 2024, purchased weeks after accepting Harborne's gift. The Grade II-listed detached home sits on a site of historic interest with substantial acreage. Planning documents from 2025 list it as occupied by its owner, not intended for rental. Farage has filmed videos there on the Cameo platform, and a neighbour noted security was installed after the purchase. Reform sources declined to confirm if Farage uses it as a residence, citing security risks.
Other Properties
The Surrey home adds to a house in Downe, Kent, which Farage has called his home. He gave an interview to UnHerd in March 2024 about his connection to the area. During the local elections campaign, Farage said he lived "half the week" in Clacton, his constituency, where he initially claimed to have bought a house. It was later revealed that the £885,000 property was bought outright by his partner, Laure Ferrari.
Farage also owns two properties on the Kent coast through his company Thorn in the Side: one bought in 2020 for £500,000 and another in 2023 for £575,000. The second received planning permission to be demolished and rebuilt in 2024, shortly after the Surrey purchase. The Clacton house was bought in November 2024. Farage first said it was in his partner's name for security, then said she bought it with her own money. Ferrari has declined to disclose the funding source.
Questions Over the £5m Gift
Farage has maintained the £5m from Harborne was a no-strings-attached gift to ensure his security for life. However, on Thursday, he told the Sun it was a "reward" for 27 years of Brexit campaigning, undermining his earlier explanation. Farage insists the Surrey purchase is unrelated to the Harborne money, with sources saying negotiations began after he left the ITV series I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, where he received a £1.5m appearance fee. An offer was accepted in March, and proof of funds and anti-money laundering checks were completed before the gift. All stamp duty was paid, about £125,000.
Labour Calls for Transparency
Labour has called on Farage to provide a full breakdown of how the £5m was used. Anna Turley, Labour chair, said: "Nigel Farage has repeatedly dodged questions on his multimillion-pound 'gift'. Now we can see why – this totally stinks. Farage must urgently come clean with the public as to what this £5m was used for and why he failed to declare it."
