Farage Defends £5m Gift from Reform UK Donor
Nigel Farage has stated that the £5 million he received from billionaire donor Christopher Harborne, associated with Reform UK, was given as a "reward for campaigning for Brexit."
The Reform UK leader told The Sun that he "cannot be bought by anybody" and that the money was provided on a "completely unconditional basis."
Declaration and Parliamentary Inquiry
Farage has previously maintained that he was under "no obligation" to declare the gift because it was received prior to his election as the Member of Parliament for Clacton. He also said the funds were intended for his "personal security" and "wasn't political in any sense at all."
Opponents of Reform UK have argued that Farage should have declared the gift in the MPs' register of interests upon his election to Parliament in 2024.
The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner has initiated an inquiry to determine whether Farage breached Commons rules by accepting the gift without declaring it.
Farage expressed that he is unconcerned about the investigation.
Farage Comments on Gift and Its Impact
When asked if he was worried about public perception given the size of the gift, Farage responded:
"It's very unusual for someone to give up 27 years of their life to campaign for something.
And this was given to me on an unconditional basis, completely unconditional basis. But frankly, it was given as a reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years."
Regarding whether the gift influenced his decision to return to public life, Farage said "no," adding again, "I cannot be bought by anybody."
Donor's Perspective
Christopher Harborne, a British cryptocurrency investor residing in Thailand, told The Telegraph in April that he "wasn't expecting anything in return apart from ensuring his safety" when referring to the gift.
Harborne also stated that he gave the money to Farage "because of my great admiration for the decades of work he had done to achieve Brexit."
Political Reactions and Regulatory Context
The Conservative Party has written to both Parliament's standards watchdog and the Electoral Commission regarding the £5 million gift.
Both the Conservatives and Labour have indicated that Farage has questions to answer concerning the gift.
The Commons code of conduct requires new MPs to "register all their current financial interests, and any registrable benefits (other than earnings) received in the 12 months before their election within one month of their election."
The rules specify that "purely personal gifts or benefits" from family or commercial loans typically do not need to be registered.
Additionally, the code states that "both the possible motive of the giver and the use to which the gift is to be put should be considered," adding that "if there is any doubt, the benefit should be registered."
MPs found to have violated the code of conduct may face penalties ranging from written or oral apologies to suspension or expulsion from the House in severe cases.
Harborne's Donations and Timing of Gift
In 2025, Harborne made a single donation of £9 million to Reform UK, which is the largest donation to a UK political party by a living individual.
Overall, the businessman donated £12 million to Reform UK in 2025 and has also contributed to the Conservative Party in the past.
The separate £5 million gift to Farage was made in early 2024, with Reform UK sources indicating it was given before Farage decided to stand as an MP.
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