Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been interviewed by the standards commissioner over whether he should have declared a £5m gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. The questioning lasted about half an hour and took place last month. Farage says the money was intended for his personal security and was a private matter rather than political funding.
The inquiry, conducted by lawyers, is nearing its conclusion, while a separate police investigation is also under way. Reform UK has not been told that the standards report is complete. An MP is usually notified before the process ends, and any finding of a serious breach would go to the standards committee, made up of MPs and lay members.
The committee could seek further evidence, recommend a sanction or reject the commissioner’s report. If Parliament approved a suspension of more than 10 days, Farage could face a recall petition and a second by-election in his Clacton constituency.
The investigation began after the £5m payment, made shortly before the 2024 election, became public in May. Harborne and fellow crypto billionaire Ben Delo have since donated £72m to Reform, prompting rival politicians to call for a cap on political donations. The party is considering using some of the money to relaunch a Reform-related television channel featuring a programme hosted by Farage.
Whether the donations comply with the rules is also unsettled as the government advances legislation that would bar overseas donors from giving more than £100,000 in a calendar year, backdated to March. Harborne joined the UK electoral register this summer, while Delo has been largely based in Hong Kong. If the donations are found impermissible, Reform could be required to return them, potentially leading to court action.