Nigel Farage's Lavish Davos Trip Exceeds £50,000 in Costs
Documents have revealed that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage's two-day attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos incurred expenses totalling more than £50,000. The trip was facilitated through two guest passes provided by Iranian-born billionaire Sasan Ghandehari, with Farage officially declaring his participation in the Switzerland summit on the register of MPs' interests.
Luxury Accommodation and Funding Sources Under Scrutiny
Despite having previously dismissed the World Economic Forum as a gathering for "globalists," Farage accepted £1,100 worth of luxury hotel accommodation directly from the conference organisers. This revelation comes alongside confirmation that his entire Davos visit was paid for by Ghandehari, a detail the Reform UK leader initially refused to confirm when questioned by The Guardian last month.
Farage was registered at the prestigious forum under the banner of HP Trust, which serves as the family office for Ghandehari and claims to manage a portfolio valued in excess of $10 billion (£7.4 billion). While HP Trust maintains that Farage has served as an honorary and unpaid adviser since approximately 2018, the politician disputes ever having worked for the organisation and declared no formal role with the firm on the official register.
Mounting Questions About Reform UK Donations
The emergence of Farage's funding from Ghandehari has prompted increased scrutiny of Reform UK's financial backing. Particular attention has focused on a substantial £200,000 donation received from Interior Architecture Landscape, a design firm that counts the Ghandehari family among its major clients.
Company representatives have emphasised that the Ghandeharis exercised no influence over the political contribution, describing it as "a commercial and values-based decision" reflecting the firm's belief that Reform UK seeks to improve sectors relevant to their operations. The company maintains full compliance with electoral law, noting that all management, decision-makers, and clients hold British citizenship.
Background of the Funding Source
Little public information exists about Sasan Ghandehari, though his family's substantial wealth is believed to originate from his late mother, Hourieh Peramaa. Described as a Kazakh-born Iranian investor who arrived in the UK as a refugee before amassing billions through property investments, Peramaa first gained attention in British circles around 2008 when she purchased one of London's most expensive properties for £50 million.
The Ghandehari family has since established themselves as notable art collectors, with Sasan currently representing a firm engaged in legal proceedings against Christie's auction house regarding the provenance of a Picasso painting previously owned by someone convicted of drug offences.
Farage's Davos Agenda and Controversial Interviews
During his time at the Swiss summit, Farage participated in multiple events where he outlined policies including proposed banking taxes. He also granted an interview to Rebel News, a Canadian media outlet known for platforming far-right contributors, during which he addressed previous comments about far-right agitator Tommy Robinson.
When questioned about remarks that prompted Robinson to threaten legal action, Farage expressed regret, stating he was "sorry if he got it slightly wrong" regarding the nature of Robinson's criminal conviction. He added: "I don't wish to have a fight with him. He does what he does, I do what I do. There we go."
The revelations about Farage's funded Davos attendance and the connected donation questions come at a sensitive time for Reform UK, as political transparency and funding sources remain under intense public and media examination.
