Nigel Farage facing threat of double investigation into billionaire backer’s £5m gift

Nigel Farage could be hit by two separate investigations into the undeclared £5m he received from Christopher Harborne, The Observer understands.

The parliamentary standards commissioner, Daniel Greenberg, is understood to have opened an inquiry into the Reform UK leader after the Guardian revealed he had received a seven-figure sum from the Thailand-based crypto billionaire.

Separately, The Observer understands that the Electoral Commission will confirm before the end of this week whether it is opening its own inquiry. The team is continuing to weigh up the extent to which the cash was used for Reform party purposes.

Earlier this year the standards commissioner found that Farage had breached parliamentary rules by failing to register 17 payments worth roughly £384,000 within the 28 days required.

Greenberg said the breach could “reasonably be described as inadvertent”, meaning no further action was taken.

This time around things could be much more serious. Several individuals who have previously worked on standards inquiries told The Observer that the nature of the gift, as well as its size, may result in the Clacton MP receiving a suspension from parliament of sufficient length that it could trigger a byelection.

The £5m was given to Farage just weeks before he announced he would stand in the 2024 general election. Farage has maintained it was a “personal gift” he was using for security, telling the Telegraph that a lit incendiary device was posted through his letterbox last year, adding: “It was an outright arson attempt.”

The Metropolitan police told The Observer it had investigated “an attempted burglary” at a property in Bromley. “Damage was caused to a door but nothing was stolen,” the Met said.

Harborne is Reform’s largest donor, having given the party £12m last year, including a record £9m single donation in August, the largest political donation yet made from a living person to a UK party.

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

A Conservative party spokesperson added: “Five million is an enormous amount, more than most people will earn in a lifetime. Nigel Farage needs to explain how he got it, why he got it, and why he didn't declare it.

“If there is a simple answer then he should welcome these investigations. But, like so often with Reform, there is something very fishy about the whole story."

A Reform UK spokesperson said: “Mr Farage’s office is in communications with the parliamentary commissioner for standards. He has always been clear that this was a personal, unconditional gift and no rules were broken. We look forward to this being put to bed once and for all.”

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