Daniel Greenberg Launches Commons Rules Probe Into Nigel Farage’s £5m Crypto Gift

UK parliamentary standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg has launched an inquiry into whether Reform UK leader Nigel Farage broke Commons rules by accepting a £5m gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne and not declaring it.

“- Published The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is launching an inquiry into whether Reform UK leader Nigel Farage broke Commons rules by accepting a £5m gift and not declaring it, the BBC understands”

BBC

The BBC says the probe concerns whether Farage should have declared the gift in the MPs’ register of interests when he was elected to Parliament in 2024, after Reform opponents wrote to the watchdog.

BBC

Farage has said the money was given before he was an MP and that he had “no obligation” to declare it, while Reform UK maintains the gift was “personal, unconditional” and that “no rules were broken.”

The Independent reports Farage received the money in 2024 before he announced he would stand in Clacton at that year’s general election, and it quotes Farage saying the money “was given to me so that I would be safe and secure for the rest of my life.”

Labour chair Anna Turley told the BBC that “Nigel Farage has been avoiding legitimate questions since news of his billionaire backer's 'gift'” and said “It’s right that he faces a proper investigation.”

The BBC also reports a Conservative Party spokesman saying “Nigel Farage needs to explain how he got it, why he got it, and why he didn't declare it,” while warning that “If there is a simple answer then he should welcome these investigations.”

Cointelegraph

Reform UK’s spokesman, as quoted by the BBC, said Farage’s office was “in communications with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards” and that “We look forward to this being put to bed once and for all.”

The BBC sets out the Commons code of conduct requirement that new MPs “must register all their current financial interests, and any registrable benefits” received in the 12 months before their election within one month of their election.

It adds that the rules say “both the possible motive of the giver and the use to which the gift is to be put should be considered,” and that “if there is any doubt, the benefit should be registered.”

The BBC notes that the Conservatives have raised concerns about the £5m gift with the Electoral Commission, which said it was considering the information, while the standards inquiry focuses on the MPs’ code of conduct.

“Parliamentary standards watchdog formally launched a probe into Nigel Farage over an undeclared £5M gift tied to crypto donations”

crypto.news

In parallel, TradingView reports that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said about a legislative proposal to curb crypto political donations, “We will act decisively to protect our democracy,” after a March move to temporarily ban political crypto donations advanced through parliament.

TradingView also says Matt Western, chair of the United Kingdom’s Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, urged lawmakers in February 2025 to temporarily ban crypto donations sent to political parties and political figures, citing concerns about foreign governments influencing UK elections and politics.

The BBC adds that punishments for breaking the code of conduct range from a written or oral apology to suspension from the House or even expulsion, and it recalls that in January Farage was found to have failed to register £384,000 in interests on time.

The BBC further says the rules allow purely personal gifts or benefits from family or commercial loans would not normally have to be registered, but that “if there is any doubt, the benefit should be registered.”