Nigel Farage says £5million ‘gift’ from crypto billionaire was his reward for Brexit campaign
Nigel Farage says a £5 million personal donation from a crypto billionaire is a ‘reward’ for his years-long Brexit campaign.
The Reform UK leader insisted Mr Farage ‘cannot be bought by anyone’ following his ‘gift’ from Thai entrepreneur Christopher Harborne just before Mr Farage announced his intention to contest the 2024 general election.
He told The Sun the seven-figure donation was given to him as a ‘reward for his 27 years of campaigning for Brexit’ and that it was given ‘completely unconditionally’.
However, he has previously said the sum was for security purposes so that he could be ‘safe and secure’ for the rest of his life as he was the target of attacks and threats, and was not designed to influence his political decisions.
“I have tried and failed in the past to have security funded by the Home Office and I don’t think the State will ever help me,” he said in April. ‘Christopher is an ardent supporter who is deeply concerned about my safety.’
Mr Farage said yesterday: ‘It is very unusual for someone to sacrifice 27 years of their life to campaign for something.
‘And this was given to me unconditionally, completely unconditionally. But frankly it was given as a reward for the 27 years we campaigned for Brexit.’
The reform leader admitted last month that he could never be sure of his safety after revealing his home had been attacked.
Thailand-based entrepreneur Christopher Harborne became extremely rich with his investments in cryptocurrency
But he faces a parliamentary investigation into his acceptance of a £5m gift given to him before he was elected.
The House of Commons’ dirty watchdog will now investigate whether Mr Farage broke Parliament’s rules when accepting donations from Mr Harborne, who supports both Reform, which donated £12 million last year, and its previous incarnation, the Brexit Party.
New MPs must declare donations they received in the 12 months before the election within one month of winning their seat.
Mr Farage faces the possibility of being suspended from the House of Commons if the investigation finds he acted inappropriately.
If the Reform UK leader is suspended from office for ten days or more, a ‘recall petition’ could be triggered, leaving him forced to fight to keep his seat in Clacton, Essex.
Yesterday, he lashed out at the investigation, claiming that no one, not even ‘Elon Musk’, could bribe him. He said: ‘He [Musk] They wanted to give us a large amount of money if I said some things to the public, but I refused.
‘I didn’t do this to antagonize Elon Musk, but it shows you that I’m my own man, I make my own decisions.’
But Mr Farage faced further questions last night after it was revealed he had paid in cash for a £1.4 million property in 2024, soon after receiving a £5 million donation.
Nigel Farage said the seven-figure donation was given to him as a ‘reward for his 27-year campaign for Brexit’.
Mr Farage branded the Sky News report ‘fake news from the establishment media who will do anything to undermine Reformation’.
A spokesman for the reform leader also said the bidding and purchasing process for the property ‘began before the gift’.
But a Conservative Party spokesman said yesterday that £5 million was ‘a tremendous amount’ and added that Mr Farage ‘must explain how he got it, why he got it and why he didn’t declare it’.
They added: ‘If there is a simple answer then these inquiries should be welcomed.
‘But as is often the case with the Reformation, there is something fishy about the whole story.’
Meanwhile, Labor leader Anna Turley accused Mr Farage of dodging legitimate questions since news of his ‘billionaire backer’s ‘gift’.
Ms Turley said it was ‘right that he should face a proper investigation’.
