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<\/p>\nReform UK chief Nigel Farage faces a standards probe after it emerged he had been given \u00a35million by a Thailand-based cryto billionaire – which he dubbed a ‘reward for campaigning for Brexit’<\/p>\n
18:36, 14 May 2026Updated 18:40, 14 May 2026<\/p>\n
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Nigel Farage has (Image: Yui Mok\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n
Nigel Farage has insisted there is no connection between a \u00a35million gift he received from a Thai-based billionaire and a \u00a31.4m house he bought soon afterward.<\/p>\n
Mr Farage faces a standards probe after it emerged he accepted the seven-figure sum from bitcoin tycoon Christopher Harborne shortly before the general election<\/a> but did not declare it. Mr Farage dubbed it a “reward for campaigning for Brexit<\/a> “, and went on to claim that voters do not care about his huge outside earnings.<\/p>\n On Thursday it emerged he had purchased a new home in May 2024 – but Reform said there is no link between the purchase and the money he was given. A document seen by The Mirror<\/a> shows Mr Farage paid \u00a31.42m for the four-bedroom detached house less than a month before announcing he would stand as an MP.<\/p>\n It comes as he faces questions over why he did not declare the \u00a35m he received from Mr Harborne. Parliamentary rules mean new MPs have to declare relevant gifts and donations in the 12 months before their election.<\/p>\n Mr Farage insists it was not relevant. In an interview with The Sun, Mr Farage voiced his anger that details of the gift had been made public – saying this was a “disgrace”. Asked about the money – which he insists pays for his security, Mr Farage said: “This shouldn’t be in the public domain.”<\/p>\n READ MORE: Nigel Farage to face probe over \u00a35million gift from Thai-based billionaire<\/a>READ MORE: Labour MP to stand aside for Andy Burnham to fight for return to Parliament<\/a> Mr Farage was given \u00a35million by businessman Christopher Harborne in 2024(Image: George Cracknell Wright\/LNP)<\/p>\n He went on: “This (the \u00a35m from Mr Harborne) was given to me an unconditional basis, a completely unconditional basis. But frankly, it was given as a reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years.”<\/p>\n Earlier this week, Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg confirmed he will investigate. The Commissioner has the power to recommend a suspension if Mr Farage is found to have committed a serious rules breach. If Mr Farage is barred from the Commons for over 10 days, he could face a recall petition – meaning he would have to stand for re-election in his Clacton constituency.<\/p>\n Mr Greenberg will determine whether Mr Farage broke Parliamentary rules requiring new MPs are to declare any potentially relevant gifts or donations received in the 12 months before they enter the Commons.<\/p>\n Anna Turley, who chairs the Labour<\/a> Party, said on Thursday: “Nigel Farage<\/a> has repeatedly dodged questions on his multi-million-pound ‘gift’. Now we can see why \u2013 this totally stinks. Farage must urgently come clean with the public as to precisely what this \u00a35million was used for and why he failed to declare it.<\/p>\n “The facts are simple. Farage took \u00a35m from a crypto billionaire, tried to cover it up, and bought an expensive house after taking the money.” And she added: “Farage may keep trying to avoid scrutiny, but he simply can\u2019t be trusted \u2013 he isn\u2019t on your side.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Farage claimed he is not worried about the probe, saying his critics have long made complaints about him. The Reform chief said: “I had five of these when I was in Brussels, five fraud investigations into me when I was an MEP (Member of the European Parliament).<\/p>\n “I mean, they came round on an annual basis. As far as this is concerned, I’m not the least bit concerned.”<\/p>\n He was also pressed on his outside earnings. Since entering Parliament, Mr Farage has declared hundreds of thousands of payments – including nearly \u00a3409,000 from GB News, \u00a3124,000 from filming Cameo videos and \u00a3226,200 plugging gold bullion.<\/p>\n Mr Farage has also clocked up nearly \u00a3139,000 from speaking engagements – and logged more than \u00a32million in gifts and payments on top of his \u00a398,599 per year salary as an MP. But the wider public do not see this as a problem, he claimed.<\/p>\n He said: “People in Clacton (his constituency) say ‘good luck to you mate’. They don’t care.<\/p>\n “They care if you’re a crook, which I’m not, I never have been. But the fact that I made a few quid doing things just doesn’t worry people at all.”<\/p>\n Last month The Guardian revealed that the \u00a35m gift from Mr Harbrorne – also known as Chakrit Sakunkrit in Thailand, where he has lived and worked for two decades – was paid shortly before the general election.<\/p>\n The businessman has given more than \u00a322m to Reform in the past seven years. He also bankrolled Mr Farage’s travel to Donald Trump’s inauguration last year, handing over \u00a327,616.76.<\/p>\n And on top of that, he donated \u00a325,000 to Mr Farage in February to fund a “humanitarian aid mission” to the Maldives, Electoral Commission records show. The Reform leader attempted to travel to the Chagos Islands – home of a joint US-UK military base – but ended up filming videos complaining he was blocked. A permit is required to enter the territory.<\/p>\n Businessman Mr Harborne, 62, has also previously given money to the Tories and Boris Johnson<\/a>, who he donated \u00a31m to in 2022. The Sheffield-born former private schoolboy owns a number of businesses around the world<\/a>, and was an early investor in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.<\/p>\n He is a large investor in cryptocurrency Tether, which is headquartered in El Salvador. After founding investment firm Sherriff Global he went on to set up jet fuel broker AML Global. Mr Farage has championed crypto. Earlier this year Mr Farage unveiled plans to cut capital gains taxes on crypto assets to 10% – down from its current 24%.<\/p>\n Mr Farage has previously said Mr Harborne wants nothing in return for his huge donations to Reform. And he told The Sun: “I can’t be bought be anyone.”<\/p>\n A Reform UK spokesman said: \u201cThe relevant chronology is straightforward. The offer and purchase process for the property commenced before the gift.<\/p>\n \u201cMr Farage had already passed proof of funds and the relevant checks before receiving the gift. The purchase was therefore already proceeding independently of it.\u201d<\/p>\n It is not the first time the Reform leader has faced questions over his personal finances. In September last year The Mirror<\/a> reported he was facing allegations of hypocrisy after announcing last year he had bought a house in Clacton, Essex, where he is MP.<\/p>\n In fact it was his partner Laure Ferrari, 46, who shelled out almost \u00a3900,000 for the plush home. As her sole property, she would be liable for nearly \u00a332,000 in stamp duty, according to HMRC\u2019s online calculator.<\/p>\n![\"Mr](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_PAY-Christopher-Harborne-Reform-Donantion.jpg\")
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