Reform UK leader Nigel Farage avoids questions over undisclosed £5m gift from crypto billionaire

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage repeatedly refused to answer questions regarding a personal £5m gift received from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. The undisclosed donation, which fell within the 12-month declaration period before his election, prompted calls for an investigation from the Electoral Commission and the Conservative Party. Farage dismissed the issue as a "Westminster bubble story" and claimed it was for his security, a claim challenged by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy.

The controversy emerged on Friday as Reform UK celebrated significant election gains, including capturing its first London council in Havering. During a press event, Farage appeared irritated by the line of questioning, stating, "Yeah yeah, well we'll talk about that any other time that you'd like." He later declined to discuss the matter with LBC Radio, suggesting the topic involved illegally obtained information that should not be in the public domain.

The £5m gift was received shortly before Farage announced his candidacy for the 2024 general election and was not declared at the time. This omission is significant because the donation falls within the 12-month period preceding his election, which is the mandatory declaration window for MPs under parliamentary rules. MPs are required to declare any "personal benefit" received in this timeframe and must do so within a month of being elected.

Reform UK chair David Bull claimed the gift was for Farage's security and asserted no voters had raised the issue during his year of campaigning. However, the rules stipulate that both the giver's motive and the intended use of the gift must be considered; if there is any doubt, the benefit should be registered. Bull stated that if there is an issue, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) can investigate it, but he maintained the matter had not come up on the doorstep.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy challenged Bull's security claim, sarcastically asking, "Five million for security ... what is it? Brink's-Mat?" Lammy referenced the 1983 Brink's-Mat robbery to highlight the implausibility of the assertion that such a sum was required for security purposes. Christopher Harborne has donated a total of £12m to Reform UK in 2025, including a record £9m single donation last year.

The Electoral Commission has stated it is considering whether to investigate the undisclosed gift following pressure from the Conservative Party. The party has also written to the parliamentary commissioner, citing rules that require MPs to declare any "personal benefit" they have received in the 12 months before taking office. The existence of the gift has only come to light in the last 10 days, despite Harborne becoming a major donor to the party.