Just weeks before Nigel Farage decided to run as an MP in the 2024 general election, he accepted a £5m gift from the cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne. The revelation, first reported by the Guardian, has sparked questions about whether Farage violated parliamentary rules by failing to declare the payment.
Code of Conduct Concerns
According to the Guardian's City editor, Anna Isaac, the rules for MPs are clear. “When MPs become members of parliament, they are given a copy of the code of conduct,” she told Annie Kelly. “These are the rules that every MP has to adhere to. And in that code of conduct it says that you need to declare benefits and financial interests. So within 28 days of becoming an MP, you need to go back through your books, through your finances for 12 months beforehand.”
Isaac explained that MPs must declare any benefits or outside earnings from that period. “The wrinkle here is that Reform says, well, hang on, this was a personal gift. And it’s true that some personal gifts don’t have to be declared but within the rules, it does say if there is any doubt that it ought to be recorded. So now that the gift’s come to light, we’re getting more scrutiny as to that question.”
Farage's Changing Explanation
Initially, Farage claimed the £5m was for his personal security. However, he later changed his story, stating that the money was a “reward” for his campaigning for Brexit. This shift has drawn further attention to the lack of transparency surrounding the transaction.
The case highlights ongoing debates about financial disclosures in politics and the need for stricter enforcement of rules governing gifts to politicians. As the story develops, pressure is mounting on Farage and Reform UK to provide a full account of the payment.
