Nigel Farage facing investigation over £5m gift from British crypto billionaire

The Commons sleaze watchdog is launching an investigation into Nigel Farage over a £5million gift from a party donor.

The Reform UK leader has been referred to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Daniel Greenberg, after it was revealed he did not declare the gift from Thailand-based cryptocurrency investor, Christopher Harborne.

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Mr Farage insisted there is "no case to answer" because he says the gift was not connected to his political activity, was given to him before he became an MP and is needed to pay for private security for the rest of his life.

It is understood the money was given to him before he announced - just a month before polling day - he would stand in the 2024 general election.

Mr Harborne is Reform's biggest donor, giving £9m in August 2025, which is the largest single donation in history to a political party from a living person.

Sky News understands the commissioner has opened an investigation under rule five of the MPs' code of conduct, which states new MPs need to register relevant financial interests received in the 12 months before their election within one month of entering parliament.

If Mr Farage is found to have breached the rules, sanctions range from apologising in public, being suspended from the Commons, or even being expelled.

Any suspension of 10 days or more would mean an MP's constituents can sign a recall petition, and if 10% or more call for the MP to go, then a by-election will be held. It would be up to Mr Farage if he wanted to stand in any subsequent by-election.

A Reform UK spokesman said: "Mr Farage's office is in communications with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

"He has always been clear that this was a personal, unconditional gift and no rules were broken.

"We look forward to this being put to bed once and for all."

On Friday, Mr Farage tried to dismiss claims he should have declared the gift, telling Sky News political editor Beth Rigby there is "no doubt at all" it was within the rules.

"It's a waste of space this, there was nothing political in its nature at all," he said.

"It's purely because, since 2013, I've been unable to live any sort of normal life, and I never will be for the rest of my days.

"It was within the rules, which I read very carefully and I had lawyers look over, it [declaring the gift] wasn't needed."

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Anna Turley, Labour Party chair, said: "Nigel Farage has been avoiding legitimate questions since news of his billionaire backer's 'gift'.

"It's right that he faces a proper investigation."

Sky News understands Mr Farage could face a second investigation into the gift, with the Electoral Commission telling the Conservatives they are looking at a complaint made by them, and will make a decision by the end of this week.

The Electoral Commission is an independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK.

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