UK Reform's Nigel Farage faces fresh misconduct allegations
Populist right leader Nigel Farage has been referred to the UK parliament's standards watchdog after a report that he failed to declare benefits. The Reform
Populist right leader Nigel Farage has been referred to the UK parliament's standards watchdog after a report that he failed to declare benefits. The Reform UK leader is already under investigation over a separate gift. Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage is facing calls for a second parliamentary standards investigation after a Liberal Democrat lawmaker asked the watchdog to examine new allegations about undeclared support. The request follows a report that the populist right Reform UK leader received security, accommodation and social media assistance before entering Parliament in 2024. What is Farage accused of? The UK's Sunday Times newspaper reported that George Cottrell, a longtime Farage ally, provided security services, social media support and accommodation during the year before Farage was elected as a lawmaker.
According to The Sunday Times, Cottrell pleaded guilty to wire fraud in the United States in 2017 and now works in the cryptocurrency sector. Under parliamentary rules, newly elected MPs must declare financial interests and most benefits received in the 12 months before entering Parliament, although some personal gifts are exempt. Farage's spokesperson dismissed the report as "baseless and contrived," saying no parliamentary rules had been broken. Liberal Democrat member Josh Babarinde wrote to Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Daniel Greenberg requesting an investigation, saying the reported support raised "a serious question" over whether Farage had complied with lawmaker's disclosure rules. Separate watchdog probe Farage is already under investigation over whether he should have declared a £5 million (€5.84 $6.7 million) gift from Thailand-based cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne before entering Parliament.
The disappointment of Brexit To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Farage has said the money was an unconditional personal gift intended to pay for his security and therefore did not have to be declared under parliamentary rules. The donation became public only after it was reported by a newspaper in April. Farage allegedly took £5 million from a cryptocurrency billionaire Image: Vuk Valcic/ZUMA/picture alliance If the watchdog concludes Farage committed a serious breach of Parliament's disclosure rules, he could be suspended from the House of Commons. A suspension of 10 sitting days or more could trigger a recall petition in his constituency.
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