Nigel Farage Faces Commons Standards Probe Over £5m Gift From Christopher Harborne

Nigel Farage faces a standards probe after the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner launched an inquiry into whether the Reform UK leader broke Commons rules by accepting a £5m gift from Christopher Harborne and not declaring it.

“UK parliament to probe Nigel Farage’s $6”

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The BBC reports Farage said he was under "no obligation" to declare the gift because it was given before he was an MP, while Reform's opponents argued he should have declared it in the MPs' register of interests when he was elected to Parliament in 2024.

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The BBC also notes that the Conservatives wrote to Parliament's standards watchdog, which is now investigating whether the Reform leader broke the House of Commons code of conduct.

The Independent says Farage was referred to the watchdog after he admitted he received the money from Harborne, a British national based in Thailand, and it adds that the Reform UK leader previously insisted there is "no case to answer" over the gift.

Reform UK’s spokesman told the BBC that "Mr Farage's office is in communications with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards" and said Farage has always been clear that the gift was a personal, unconditional one with no rules broken.

Labour Party chair Anna Turley, speaking to the BBC, said "Nigel Farage has been avoiding legitimate questions since news of his billionaire backer's 'gift'."

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The Independent adds that Labour chair Anna Turley said it was "right that he faces a proper investigation," and it quotes Labour MP Phil Brickell, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on anti-corruption, calling Farage a "grifter".

The BBC further reports that a Conservative Party spokesman said £5m was "more than most people will earn in a lifetime" and argued Farage needs to explain how he got it, why he got it, and why he didn't declare it.

The BBC explains that the Commons code of conduct says 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, while it notes that "if there is any doubt, the benefit should be registered."

“- If Farage is found to have breached rules, he could face punishments including suspension from the House of Commons - Reform UK party gained almost 1,500 seats in local elections in England this month LONDON: The British parliamentary sleaze watchdog will probe hard-right politician Nigel Farage’s non-disclosure of a £5 million gift from a billionaire donor to his party, UK media reported Wednesday”

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It adds that MPs judged to have broken the code of conduct can face punishments ranging from a written or oral apology to suspension from the House or even expulsion in the most serious cases.

The Independent says that if the probe finds Farage committed a serious breach, he could be suspended from the Commons, and it notes that a suspension of 10 days or more could trigger a recall petition that could force him to fight his Clacton seat again.

The BBC also places the case in a wider pattern of standards scrutiny by reporting that in January Farage was found to have failed to register £384,000 in interests on time, though he was allowed to update his register via the "rectification" procedure without sanctions.