Farage fails to report 5 million gift!

BBC News says he was obliged to declare it, unless there is an update I can’t find.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn5pr0gp3gro

But it was a personal gift for his personal security??

Depends on details of rules I assume.

Oreo

I read today on the BBC online news that he didn’t do anything wrong as the gift was given to him before he became a politician in Parliament.

I've just responded to this on another thread. I'll copy it here

The BBC online news article states this very clearly, Oreo. Or perhaps you were in an alternative universe?

The Commons code of conduct states that new MPs "must register all their current financial interests, and any registrable benefits (other than earnings) received in the 12 months before their election within one month of their election

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn5pr0gp3gro

Reform are claiming it was a personal gift to Farage but I find it very hard to believe that billionaires part with millions of pounds with no expectation of benefit from it... Apparently 'registrable benefits' include gifts that could reasonably influence their actions, words, or votes Oddly enough, Harborne is a crypto entrepreneur and 1Fargage is heavily promoting crypto

The FT article says that the Privileges Committee could give Farage a 'serious suspension' from Parliament, i.e 10 days or more.

In which case a recall petition could be used to trigger a bye election in his constituency. The petition has to be signed by 10% of his constituents within 6 weeks of the suspension being given.

Now that would be interesting...

Aren’t people allowed to accept gifts in the UK ? Just curious.

I believe MPs can accept gifts but have to declare it. It is so that everything is above board and there is no suspicion that they are being u duly influenced.

nanna8

Aren’t people allowed to accept gifts in the UK ? Just curious.

We're not talking about 'people', we're talking about an MP who, it seems, has failed to follow the MP's code of Conduct.

Well if parliament suspend him for ten days it will have no impact because he’s hardly there anyway.

ronib

But Farage has been targeted in the past. A firebomb was pushed through the letterbox to his house. If the State wasn’t willing/able to protect Farage, for whatever reasons, then private donations fill the gap in security. To make political leverage out of the State’s shortfall is sad.

Plastering the letterbox with fivers, however many there are in £5million, isn't going to stop a fire. In fact, that much would make a nice blaze.

He's rich enough to pay for his own security if he thinks he needs it, because he's not important enough for my tax to be spent on him.

Here’s the induction letter that was sent to all new MPs on 5 July 2024 from Daniel Greenberg the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/pcfs/advice-notes/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards---members-induction-pack-2024.pdf

It says:

The House requires Members, within one month of their election, to register all their current financial interests, and any registrable benefits (other than earnings) received in the 12 months before their election.

The deadline for registration of interests is 4 August 2024. New Members should book an induction meeting now (to be held in [XXXX] from 10 July) on how to register their interests, either by using this link Registration Induction Booking or this QR code. You will need to bring your laptop to your induction meeting.

…

I will be addressing all new Members as part of the House’s induction support, and my office will provide a range of ongoing support and guidance.

I wonder if the self-important Farage bothered to engage with any of this?

It was just a months ago when Farage was found to have failed to register 17 interests on time (omitted to register almost £400,000 in income) and claimed it was because he "doesn't do computers" and is not "computer literate”.

Let’s hope Greenberg throws the book at him this time. Not that Farage appears to have been attending Parliament much or at all in the last month - he hasn’t spoken or voted in over a month. A 10 day or more suspension could trigger a recall and a by-election, although there won’t be time before summer recess.

Were this to happen, having spent almost two years showing he doesn’t give a damn about the people of Clacton, one might hope they would vote for someone who would.

On a side matter a recent poll on voting intentions showed that of the MPs to defect to Reform more recently, only Rosindell would be likely to retain his seat. Braverman, Jenrick and Kruger could lose theirs. For the most part, voters aren't keen that MPs defect from the party they represented when they put themselves up as a candidate.

Farage, on 23 May 2024, stated publicly on X he did not intend to stand for election in July 2024 General Election. He publicly sated he wanted to be free to campaign in the US presidential election later that year.

Farage then U turned a couple of weeks before the GE and said he would stand for election after all. Harborne, a cryptocurrency investor gave £5million to Farage shortly before Farage's U turn. The £5million came at the time Farage put pressure on Rishi Sunak to accept and an election pact, ( turned down) something that Harborne had said he favoured at the time and had previously discussed with Farage. Harborne had previously donated to the Conservatives and gave £1 million to Boris Johnson to run his office as he stood down from PM in 2022.

Farage is a seasoned politician and should be well aware of rules of that MPs must declare any benefits in their register of interests, including in the 12 months before taking up office. He chose not to. Farage would also have been well aware of the media furore around Boris Johnston accepting "gifts/benefits e.g the gold wall paper famously made public that was referred for investigation, subsequently declared. He would also have been aware of Harborne's £1 million to Boris as he stepped down, that also caused a media furore.

Recently the Guardian became aware of this £5 million sum Farage received and ask F and the Reform party for comment. Lawyers for Reform UK sent a letter to the Guardian asking for more time to respond. (begs the question why Reform and Farage sought legal representation) Until this stage neither Farage or Harborne had spoken publicly about the £5 million transfer of monies.

In a bid to get ahead of the news story, and put his own spin on it, Farage, instead of responding to the Gardian, decided to go to the Telegraph newspaper with a request to publish his story. The Telegraph obliges and runs his story as follows: an incendiary device was posted through Farage's letter box, before he decided to stand as an MP at the 2024 GE, when he was not at home and it fizzled out. Farage then said he called the Police (if true presumably they came and looked at said failed incendiary device said to have been posted at a unknown time when Farage was not at home). Farage told the Telegraph the Police had not been able to find any suspects (hardly surprising). Farage told Harborne he feared for his personal safety and as a result he said Harborne then gave him the £5 million for personal security as an "unconditional gift". Following receipt of this sum Farage then U turned and made a public statement he would stand for election after all.

A Reform spokesperson says "This was a personal unconditional gift that was given before he was elected " and also accuses the Conservative Party of putting Farage's safety at risk by denying him state funded protection when they were in power. (begs the question what level of state funded protection Farage requested from the Conservative Party when he was not actually in public office??)

I have not found any BBC report or statement that Farage didn't do anything wrong.

The rules apply to all- yet another situation when Farage thinks the rules do not apply to him. Yet another situation that shows he is motivated by financial gain.

Farage said the letterbox incident took place in early 2025 so after he took the £5 million from Harborne.

He wasn’t there at the time but if he feels under threat and has been given £5 million pounds to pay for security then why isn’t he using it for security at his many homes? I believe he has five now - in competition with the tone deaf Malcolm Offord.

MPs are provided with security. Institute for Government explainer here:

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/mps-security

Trouble is Farage’s does not behave like the other 649 MPs. He wanders around flanked by bodyguards as if he’s some rock superstar, enters his tent rallies to fanfares like a boxer entering the ring. It’s a performance. Being surrounded by burly blokes didn’t stop him from being milkshaked.

As Jim Royle would say. Security my arse. Farage was paid to stand as an MP (after he said he wasn’t going to) so that he could push crypto for Harborne. Since then has made no secret that a Reform government would act as a champion for the industry promising major tax cuts on crypto capital gains and various deregulatory measures. More recently we had the big fanfare that he has made a personal invetsment in crypto from Kwarteng's Stack BTC.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/mar/09/nigel-farage-kwasi-kwarteng-bitcoin-reform-uk-crypto-stack-btc

He's Harborne's puppet.

The letter box incident was early 2025? Interesting- doesn't fit well with Farage's Telegraph narrative (spin).

Braverman has weighed in today on Farage's behalf saying the donation didn't need to be declared because it was a "private" matter- There's a very big difference between what's your public duty, your public role and your private. And before he was an MP for many years, Nigel has carried a high risk to his personal safety. It is entirely reasonable for him to take steps. It's very regrettable, actually, that the state has not stepped in to protect him".

Farage, Braverman and Reform seem to take it for granted people are not aware of the rules. The Commons Code of Conduct and associated rules, clearly states "Both the possible motive of the giver and the use to which the gifts should be put to use considered. If there is any doubt, the benefit should be registered"

I still maintain that Farage fully knew Harborne's £1 million "gift" to Boris to run his office had resulted in a media furore and would also be the case should his £5million gift become public knowledge. He would surely know that doubt would be raised and the rules stay when in doubt declare. That was why he got lawyers involved. That is also most likely why he approached the Telegraph putting on his spin about the letter box failed incendiary device which Graphite clarifies was not until AFTER the £5 million was received.

Then coming to the Personal security malarkey. Farage seems to consider himself somehow "exceptional". In what way did he expect the state supposed to step in with regard to his security BEFORE he was in public office?

Once he became an MP, just a few weeks AFTER the £5 million was received he would have the same level of security afforded to all MPs- job done:

UK MPs receive a high, tiered level of security, which has been significantly strengthened since 2016 following the murders of Jo Cox and Sir David Arness. As of 2016, the state provides a combination of physical security at Westminster, dedicated police support in their constituencies and additional funding for high risk individuals. Every MP has a dedicated police officer to liaise with on security. In their constituency offices- they are entitled to security upgrades (e.g. panic buttons, enhanced locks, CCTV etc) are these are funded via expenses. MPs can also receive private security personnel at public facing events- e.g. MP surgeries. But then how often has Farage actually held surgeries in his Clacton constituency?

There is also Enhanced Security and Funding for MPs available to tackle increased threats. E.g MPs at a higher risk may be provided with executive protection/bodyguards. Funding available for residential security, e.g panic rooms, reinforced doors at their homes. "Surge" patrols, ie police patrols at constituency offices and homes are increased if a heightened threat is identified.

So state funded security protection is fully available for Farage ( I'm surprised Braverman is so remarkably ill informed), in public and at home for his work as an MP and leader of Reform UK. What more personal security does Farage want or need for "private matters" to the extent that would merit a £5 million donation from Harborne?

MaizieD

Oreo

I read today on the BBC online news that he didn’t do anything wrong as the gift was given to him before he became a politician in Parliament.

I've just responded to this on another thread. I'll copy it here

The BBC online news article states this very clearly, Oreo. Or perhaps you were in an alternative universe?

The Commons code of conduct states that new MPs "must register all their current financial interests, and any registrable benefits (other than earnings) received in the 12 months before their election within one month of their election

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn5pr0gp3gro

Reform are claiming it was a personal gift to Farage but I find it very hard to believe that billionaires part with millions of pounds with no expectation of benefit from it... Apparently 'registrable benefits' include gifts that could reasonably influence their actions, words, or votes Oddly enough, Harborne is a crypto entrepreneur and 1Fargage is heavily promoting crypto

The FT article says that the Privileges Committee could give Farage a 'serious suspension' from Parliament, i.e 10 days or more.

In which case a recall petition could be used to trigger a bye election in his constituency. The petition has to be signed by 10% of his constituents within 6 weeks of the suspension being given.

Now that would be interesting...

It’s what I read on the BBC online news at 6 a.m this morning.
If the gift was given within 12 months before he entered parliament then he will be fined presumably for not declaring it.

I don’t suppose he will be too bothered by a ten day suspension in any case, and doesn’t parliament become prorogued round about now with the elections coming up.

There is no If about it- the £5 million sum was received weeks before Farage became an MP so definitely within in the 12 month timeframe rules.

After investigation, if found to have breached the code of Conduct, Farage will be extremely lucky if he gets away with just a fine. As MaizieD points out, it could result in a suspension and possibly a bye election.

His constituents may welcome a by-election but I will be surprised if that happens.

Parliament prorogued yesterday and will meet again on 13th May for the State Opening of Parliament and Charles will announce the next programme of legislation via his King's Speech.

How much does private security cost? Even if you paid bodyguards 100k pa that’s an awful lot of security.

Indeed Vegansrock- but the fact remains Farage already has state funded security as set out - put in place weeks after he received the £5million.

The payment was made in 2024 according to the media, so at the longest it would have been 7 months before the election. It will be possible to find the exact date I woukd think.

I’m just here to read the mental gymnastics it takes to excuse this deceitful grifter’s behaviour. Spin doctors are indeed at work

LemonJam

Indeed Vegansrock- but the fact remains Farage already has state funded security as set out - put in place weeks after he received the £5million.

Certainly enough to enable him to carry out constituency surgeries safely one would think.

He said that it was the egg thrown at him incident that provoked his deep fears 🤣. and one small firebomb. When he wasn't there.

This happens a lot
He receives as much security as any other MP in his situation.

Women MP's get Rape threats, for goodness sake, over long periods of time. My female MP has had to move her office.

Pathetic, frankly. whinging to try and get out of being held to account.

Casdon- 13.30.

Here is the timeline according to the Guardian, as I understand:

1) Farage said on X he would not stand for election in May 2024 on X shorty after Sunak announced the election would take place on 4 July 2024. The BBC and other broadcasters reported Farage's statement not to stand on 23 May 2024.
2) Behind the scenes Farage tried to persuade Rishi Sunak to agree an electoral pact with Reform as he previously negotiated, successfully with Boris Johnson in 2019. Sunak refused.
3) The Guardian claims Farage was given the £5 million by Harborne "shortly before announcing he would stand as a prospective MP"
4) The Guardian claims Farage's U turn decision to stand was made "within weeks of receiving the personal gift" from Harborne.
5) On 3rd June 2024 Farage publicly stated he would stand for election
6) GE took place on 4 July 2024.
7) Farage came to post as MP for Clacton on 4 July 2024 and form this date became eligible for state funded personal security as set out above
8) On coming to post as an MP Farage was obliged to report all gifts, donations etc for previous 12 months. He made a decision NOT to declare his recent £5 million gift/donation from Harborne, (fully aware Harborne made a £1 million gift to Boris in 2022 subject to scrutiny and censure at the time)