Nigel Farage has said a £5m gift from a billionaire supporter was intended as a reward for his long-running campaign in favour of Brexit, as questions continue over whether the payment should have been declared after he entered Parliament.
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The leader of Reform UK told The Sun that the money, provided by donor Christopher Harborne, was given on a “completely unconditional basis” and did not influence his return to politics.
The payment is now under scrutiny after critics argued it should have been disclosed when Nigel Farage was elected as MP for Clacton in 2024.
Gift linked to Brexit campaigning
Farage said the donation reflected appreciation for his decades-long involvement in the campaign that led to the UK leaving the European Union.
“It’s very unusual for someone to give up 27 years of their life to campaign for something,” he said, adding that the gift was provided without conditions.
According to Farage, the money was “given as a reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years”.
He also rejected suggestions that the payment influenced his political decisions.
Asked whether the donation affected his return to public life, he said it had not, adding: “I cannot be bought by anybody.”
Investigation into declaration rules
The UK Parliament’s standards watchdog has opened an inquiry to determine whether Farage breached Commons rules by not registering the payment.
Under parliamentary guidelines, MPs must declare financial interests and certain benefits received in the year before they are elected within one month of entering Parliament.
Farage has previously argued that he had no obligation to register the payment. He said the gift was made before he became an MP and was intended to fund his personal security rather than political activity.
Rules governing MPs’ conduct state that purely personal gifts or benefits — including family gifts or commercial loans — would not normally require registration. However, they also say that both the donor’s motives and the intended use of a gift should be considered. If there is uncertainty, MPs are advised to register the benefit.
If an investigation finds that the code of conduct has been breached, sanctions can range from a written or oral apology to suspension from the House of Commons or, in serious cases, expulsion.
Political criticism and donor response
Opposition parties have said Farage must clarify the circumstances surrounding the payment.
Both the Conservative Party and the Labour Party have raised concerns about the donation, with the Conservatives writing to the parliamentary standards commissioner and the Electoral Commission to request further scrutiny.
Harborne, a British cryptocurrency investor based in Bangkok, has previously defended the gift. In comments reported by The Telegraph in April, he said he did not expect anything in return beyond helping ensure Farage’s safety.
Harborne also said the donation reflected his admiration for Farage’s efforts over many years to achieve Brexit.
The businessman has been a major financial backer of Reform UK. Last year he gave the party £9m in a single donation, the largest ever contribution to a UK political party from a living individual.
In total, Harborne provided £12m to Reform UK in 2025 and has previously donated to the Conservative Party.
Sources within Reform say the separate £5m payment to Farage was made in early 2024, before he had decided to stand as a parliamentary candidate.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 15 May 2026
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