Nigel Farage now describes a £5 million payment from billionaire crypto entrepreneur Christopher Harborne as a "reward" for his 27 years of Brexit campaigning. This new explanation came in an interview with The Sun's Editor-At-Large, Harry Cole, just days before an official government inquiry into the funds began.
Farage initially claimed Harborne's millions were for security expenses. He told Cole the money was given on an "unconditional basis," a "personal gift." He also insisted he "cannot be bought" and stated he refused a "load of money" from Elon Musk for public statements, without detailing those specific topics or the proposed sum. This shifting explanation has drawn scrutiny.
Harborne, a major shareholder in the stablecoin Tether, has contributed over £22 million to the Reform UK party in the last seven years. In August 2025, Harborne donated £9 million to the party.
One month after that £9 million donation, Farage promoted Tether on the LBC talkshow. He used the platform to criticize the Bank of England's strict approach to stablecoins.
Farage has also reportedly earned more than £370,000 through the personalized video messaging service Cameo. Some of these messages generated considerable controversy.
Former Reform UK Deputy Leader Ben Habib alleged this week that Harborne paid Farage £1 million in late 2022. Habib claimed this payment followed a scheme where Harborne, Farage, and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson "sewed up" the 2019 UK election, with each allegedly receiving a £1 million payment from Harborne for their roles. Farage denies these allegations and has publicly threatened to sue Habib for defamation.
The Guardian reported that the £5 million gift reached Farage just weeks before he publicly reversed his stance and announced a run in the upcoming general election. This announcement came one month after he first stated he would not run. These events raise questions about whether Farage should have declared the gift.
Parliamentary rules mandate that Members of Parliament register all current financial interests and any registrable benefits received in the 12 months before their election within one month of their election. The rules specify that gifts over a certain value must be declared. The UK's Parliamentary Standards Commissioner has opened an investigation into Farage's actions, seeking to determine if he breached these disclosure requirements. The UK's Electoral Commission will also decide this week whether to launch its own inquiry into the funding of Reform UK and its leader. Farage claims The Guardian obtained the relevant documents illegally and that the information "shouldn't be in the public domain," implying a breach of privacy.
Sky News reported that Farage used £1.4 million in cash to purchase a house shortly after receiving the £5 million from Harborne. Reform UK states the "offer and purchase process for the property commenced before the gift." Farage dismissed Sky News' reporting as "fake news by the establishment media," asserting he had "passed proof-of-funds and the relevant checks before receiving the gift."
This situation has prompted further scrutiny. When reporters asked senior Reform UK officials if Farage would provide receipts for his security detail and purchases, they told the press it was not necessary.
The various inquiries into the financial dealings of Nigel Farage remain active across multiple UK regulatory bodies.