Investigation of Nigel Farage over undeclared gifts is ‘kangaroo court’, says Reform MP | Nigel Farage

A Reform England MP has complained that the standards system investigating Nigel Farage for undeclared gifts is a “kangaroo court”.

Runcorn MP Sarah Pochin said Farage had called a by-election in his seat of Clacton so voters could decide whether to support him, and argued that “the media, the British state and the legacy parties have launched a vicious and desperate campaign to stop UK Reformation”.

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Farage has previously said the investigation into him by the parliamentary standards watchdog was “used as a political tool” and Reform sources claimed the commissioner and the committee were illegitimate.

But Pochin’s remarks go further, arguing that the process is unfair with a predetermined decision, and point to increasing attempts by Farage supporters to undermine the standards system.

His words echo those of Boris Johnson, who claimed there was a “kangaroo court” when the privileges committee found No 10 had deliberately misled parliament about breaking Covid rules.

The standards commissioner is currently investigating whether Farage should have declared a £5 million gift given to him by Thailand-based businessman Christopher Harborne before the last election. Farage has always said he was not in politics at the time of the gift.

The investigation was then widened to look at whether Farage should declare support from his friend and fraudster George Cottrell, who provided accommodation at one of the houses he rented in London and also paid for some social media footage in 2024.

Farage told the Triggernometry podcast at the weekend that it was “in no way declarable”.

He accepted that the parliamentary standards system might have gone against him, but claimed he had taken advice from a “top international lawyer” who told him he had a document drawn up stating that the £5 million did not need to be declared because it was unconditional and that it was given free of charge.

Under the rules, gifts and in-kind contributions must be declared for the 12 months before an MP enters parliament, provided they are solely political.

Farage is running a by-election in Clacton against more than 30 candidates but none of them are from the main parties because they have decided to boycott the contest.

He could potentially face a second by-election if the Commissioner faces significant sanctions recommending his suspension from the House of Commons, triggering a possible recall petition. The major parties have vowed to stand against him in a possible second contest.