Farage interviewed over £5m gift from crypto billionaire

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was interviewed last month by the parliamentary commissioner for standards as part of an investigation into a £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. The probe, which resumed after Mr Farage won the Clacton by-election, concerns whether the donation should have been declared under parliamentary rules.

The interview with Daniel Greenberg, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, took place in the Palace of Westminster and lasted 30 minutes, according to Mr Farage. Under House of Commons rules, new MPs are required to register any gifts valued at more than £300 received within the previous 12 months. This requirement does not apply if the gift "could not be reasonably thought by others" to be linked to their political activities.

Mr Farage has stated that the £5 million gift from Mr Harborne was not political and that he has committed no wrongdoing. Mr Harborne is identified as one of two crypto-billionaires who collectively donated £72 million to Reform UK. The large sums, including twin £36 million gifts from Ben Delo and Mr Harborne, have previously led to calls for stricter donation caps beyond existing legislation on overseas funding.

Mr Harborne, who was reportedly based in Thailand, is also noted to have registered to vote in Hampshire as of June. Mr Farage told The Sunday Times that he anticipated a more severe reaction to the donations but instead experienced "some grudging respect" for achieving such a significant financial inflow.