Farage says a £5m gift and a £1.4m house purchase are unconnected, as Reform considers legal options and an investigation continues.
Property records show the purchase of the house was completed in May 2024, weeks before he decided to stand in the general election, according to Sky News.. A Reform UK spokesperson told the Press Association both the offer and purchase process commenced before the gift from Mr Harborne.. They added: “Mr Farage had already passed proof of funds and the relevant checks before receiving the gift.. The purchase was therefore already proceeding independently of it.”
It is understood Reform UK is considering legal options in response to the report.. Commenting on X, Mr Farage said: “This is fake news by the establishment media who will do anything to hurt Reform as we challenge their cosy consensus.. “I had passed proof-of-funds and the relevant checks before receiving the gift.. Sky News did not publish that part of our statement despite knowing the truth.” Mr Farage is facing an investigation by the
Commons sleaze watchdog over the £5m gift from Mr Harborne.. I can’t be bought by anybody, not even Elon Musk The Reform UK leader was referred to Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Daniel Greenberg over the undeclared gift from the Thailand-based cryptocurrency investor in 2024.. Mr Farage has previously insisted there is “no case to answer” over the gift, which he said was not connected to his political activity and was needed to pay for private
security for the rest of his life.. He is reported to have received the money in 2024 before he announced he would stand in Clacton at that year’s general election.. It is understood the commissioner has opened an investigation under rule five of the MPs’ code of conduct, which specifies new MPs should register relevant financial interests received in the 12 months before their election within one month of entering parliament.. In an interview with
The Sun newspaper, Mr Farage said the gift was given on a “completely unconditional basis”.. He said: “Frankly, it was given as a reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years.” When it was suggested the gift may have influenced his decision to return to public life, Mr Farage said: “I can’t be bought by anybody, not even Elon Musk.” The tech billionaire had a warm relationship with Mr Farage before Mr Musk called for
him to be replaced during a dispute over his support for right-wing activist Tommy Robinson.
Nigel Farage gift, £1.4m house purchase, £5m Harborne, Reform UK legal options, Parliamentary Commissioner investigation, Commons sleaze watchdog