Nigel Farage Claims Russian Spies Hacked His Phone Over £5m Gift

Nigel Farage Claims Russian Spies Hacked His Phone Over £5m Gift

Reform Leader Alleges Moscow Cyber Attack

Nigel Farage has claimed Russian-linked hackers targeted his phone, email and bank accounts in order to obtain details about a controversial £5 million donation that is now under parliamentary investigation.

The Reform UK leader said he was left “deeply concerned” after counter-espionage experts allegedly concluded his devices had been compromised using sophisticated “spear phishing” techniques commonly associated with hostile state actors.

According to party sources, Farage became suspicious after details of the donation from Thailand-based businessman Christopher Harborne were leaked to the media despite allegedly being known by only a handful of people.

A Reform source claimed forensic analysis pointed to attackers “almost certainly linked to Moscow.”

Donation Now At Centre Of Commons Probe

The £5 million payment is already under investigation by Parliament’s standards watchdog.

The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is examining whether Farage breached Commons rules by failing to declare the gift before entering Parliament in 2024.

Farage insists the money was used for private security while he was not an MP and therefore did not qualify as a political donation requiring declaration.

Harborne donated roughly £12 million to Reform UK overall last year and previously gave major sums to the Conservatives under Boris Johnson, as well as to the Brexit Party.

MPs found guilty of serious breaches can face suspension from the House of Commons, potentially triggering a recall petition and by-election.

Russia Claims Escalate Political Row

Farage suggested his strong support for NATO and Ukraine may have made him a target for Russian intelligence services.

Harborne also reportedly drew Moscow’s attention after accompanying Johnson on a high-profile visit to Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Farage told reporters: “These actions by Russia are deeply concerning and highlight the threat they pose to British security.”

The allegations have intensified tensions between Reform UK and The Guardian, which first reported details surrounding the donation.

Farage questioned whether Reform could continue cooperating with the newspaper, though he did not accuse it of involvement in any hacking.

The Guardian strongly rejected the claims, accusing Farage of attempting to distract from legitimate scrutiny of his finances.

Ministers Demand Answers Over Russian Links

The controversy widened further after John Healey demanded assurances that none of Harborne’s wealth was linked to Russian state-connected energy business.

Healey reportedly asked whether AML Global — Harborne’s aviation fuel company — had fully complied with sanctions linked to Russia’s energy sector.

The Defence Secretary also questioned whether growing instability in the Middle East could financially benefit the firm.

Growing Fears Over Foreign Cyber Threats

If confirmed, the alleged hack would add Farage to a growing list of senior British political figures believed to have been targeted by foreign intelligence operations.

In recent years, figures including Liz Truss and Boris Johnson have reportedly suffered major cyber breaches linked to hostile states.

A senior adviser to Farage, George Cottrell, is also said to have had a phone “critically compromised” while working in Montenegro, with US intelligence sources allegedly blaming Moscow.

The claims come amid mounting warnings from British security agencies about increasingly aggressive cyber operations by Russia, China and Iran targeting Western politicians and democratic institutions.

SOURCE