![\"Nigel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778793619_158_0_Local-elections-2026.jpg\")
<\/p>\n“Frankly, it was given as a reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years”<\/p>\n
Mr Farage was given \u00a35million by businessman Christopher Harborne in 2024(Image: Jordan Pettitt\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n
Nigel Farage has fumed at the scrutiny he faces over the \u00a35million gift he received from a Thailand\u2011based billionaire, insisting it was not used to purchase a \u00a31.42million home bought shortly after the payment was made.<\/p>\n
The Reform UK leader faces an investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner after it emerged that Christopher Harborne, a major cryptocurrency investor and long\u2011standing Reform donor, transferred the seven\u2011figure sum to Farage<\/a> shortly before the general election, though it was never declared.<\/p>\n Farage has offered shifting explanations for the money, initially suggesting it was intended to cover security costs before later describing it as a \u201creward for campaigning for Brexit<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n The Reform leader has now claimed the \u00a35m was a “reward for campaigning for Brexit”(Image: Yui Mok\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n The lack of disclosure, combined with the timing of his property purchase, has intensified pressure on the Clacton MP. Farage insisted he was under “no obligation” to declare the gift, as is required by MPs, because he received it before being voted in as Clacton MP – adding the payment “wasn’t political in any sense at all”.<\/p>\n On Thursday (May 14), it emerged that Mr Farage completed the purchase of a four\u2011bedroom detached property in May 2024. Reform UK insists the transaction was already underway and unrelated to the \u00a35million gift, despite documents showing he paid \u00a31.42million for the house less than a month before announcing his intention to stand for Parliament.<\/p>\n Speaking with The Sun, the Clacton MP fumed that the payment was made public, calling it a “disgrace” and something that “shouldn’t be in the public domain”.<\/p>\n “This (the \u00a35m from Mr Harborne) was given to me on an unconditional basis, a completely unconditional basis. But frankly, it was given as a reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years,” he said.<\/p>\n Farage faces an investigation over the funds<\/p>\n Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg will investigate the matter, and holds the power to recommend a suspension if Mr Farage is found to have committed a serious rules breach. If barred from the Commons for more than 10 days, Farage could face a recall petition – triggering a re-election in his Clacton constituency.<\/p>\n Mr Greenberg will decide whether Farage was required 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 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 The Reform chief insists he is not worried about the probe, adding his critics have long made similar complaints.<\/p>\n “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),” he said. “I mean, they came round on an annual basis. As far as this is concerned, I’m not the least bit concerned.”<\/p>\n The Reform chief insists he is not worried about the probe(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 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 for advertising gold bullion. He has also racked 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.<\/p>\n But, Farage claims the public do not mind his vast earnings, stating: “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 In April, The Guardian disclosed that the \u00a35m gift from Mr Harborne, 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 Another \u00a325,000 donation was made by the crypto magnate in February to fund a “humanitarian aid mission” to the Maldives, Electoral Commission records show.<\/p>\n![\"Nigel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778793620_38_0_Local-elections-2026.jpg\")
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<\/p>\n![\"Nigel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_Nigel-Farage-Celebrates-With-New-Reform-Councillors-In-Havering.jpg\")
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