Nigel Farage has expressed willingness to accept additional donations from his billionaire supporter for Reform UK, despite facing scrutiny from Parliament’s standards commissioner.
Critics have raised concerns about the £5 million contribution made by Christopher Harborne, a British-Thai cryptocurrency tycoon, before the 2024 General Election, which Farage did not publicly disclose until later. Harborne, who has now registered to vote in the UK, has also made subsequent donations exceeding £25 million to Reform UK.
Farage confirmed during a recent rally that the party would be open to receiving further financial support from Harborne, stating, “We would gladly accept. Absolutely.” He further expressed satisfaction that Harborne had re-registered as a UK voter.
The ongoing investigation is centered on whether Farage violated House of Commons regulations mandating disclosure of significant gifts or donations within a year before becoming an MP. Farage has offered various explanations for accepting the gift, initially citing security concerns, then describing it as a private matter unrelated to politics, and later suggesting it was a token of appreciation for his pro-Brexit efforts.
Despite facing criticism, Farage has maintained that the public has no right to question how he uses the gift, emphasizing that it is a personal matter. He has also dismissed concerns about the gift becoming public due to alleged hacking. In media interactions, Farage has defended his actions, asserting that he has not misused the funds and has abided by financial regulations.
Responding to inquiries about the purpose of the gift, Farage reiterated that it was an unconditional contribution, emphasizing his right to decide how to utilize the funds. He has dismissed calls for transparency, stressing that the gift was given without any strings attached.
Labour chair Anna Turley has called for Farage to be forthright about the nature of the donation, criticizing his evolving explanations and urging him to address the questions raised about the undisclosed financial support.
