BBC
The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is initiating an investigation to determine whether Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, violated House of Commons regulations by accepting a £5 million gift from billionaire Christopher Harborne and failing to disclose it.
Farage contends that he was under "no obligation" to declare this gift since it was given prior to his election as a Member of Parliament (MP). However, critics of Reform UK argue that Farage should have reported this transaction in the MPs' register of interests upon his election to Parliament in 2024.
The Conservative Party has formally contacted Parliament's standards authority, which is now examining whether Farage's actions constituted a breach of the Commons code of conduct.
A spokesperson for Reform UK stated, "Mr. Farage's office is in ongoing communication with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. He has consistently maintained that this was a personal, unconditional gift, and asserts that no rules were violated. We look forward to resolving this matter once and for all."
Labour Party chair Anna Turley expressed that Farage has been dodging legitimate inquiries since news surfaced regarding the substantial gift from his billionaire supporter. She stated, "It is appropriate that he undergoes a thorough investigation."
A representative from the Conservative Party remarked that £5 million is "more than most people will earn in a lifetime." They emphasized that "Nigel Farage needs to clarify how he received it, why it was given, and why it was not declared." They continued, "If a straightforward explanation exists, he should embrace the investigations. However, as is often the case with Reform, there appears to be something quite dubious about the entire situation."
Potential Punishments
The Commons code of conduct dictates that newly elected MPs "must register all their current financial interests and any registrable benefits (excluding earnings) received in the 12 months preceding their election within one month of their election."
According to the regulations, "purely personal gifts or benefits" from family or commercial loans are typically exempt from registration.
Furthermore, the guidelines indicate that "both the potential motive of the donor and the intended use of the gift should be taken into account," stating, "if there is any uncertainty, the benefit should be registered."
MPs found to have breached the code of conduct may face a variety of repercussions, including a written or oral apology, suspension from the House, or even expulsion in the most severe instances.
In January, it was determined that Farage had failed to timely register £384,000 in interests. However, he was permitted to amend his register through the "rectification" process without facing any sanctions, with standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg concluding that this breach was an "inadvertent" oversight.
The Conservative Party has also voiced concerns regarding the £5 million gift to Farage with the Electoral Commission, which is currently reviewing the details.
Harborne, a British cryptocurrency entrepreneur residing in Thailand, made a notable donation of £9 million to Reform UK last year, marking it as the largest single donation to a UK political party by a living individual. Over the course of 2025, Harborne contributed a total of £12 million to Reform and has previously made donations to the Conservative Party.
The separate £5 million gift to Farage occurred in early 2024, with sources within Reform UK asserting that it was initiated prior to his decision to run as an MP. Farage has stated that Harborne provided the funds for his personal security needs, characterizing the gift as "purely private" and "not political in any sense at all."
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