Reform UK braces for expected standards verdict on Farage's undeclared £5m gift

Reform UK is bracing for a negative report from the standards commissioner into Nigel Farage's failure to declare a £5m gift from Christopher Harborne, a crypto billionaire, The Guardian reported. Several Reform insiders expect the initial verdict to find against Farage, and the party is preparing to appeal if it does.

The investigation is being carried out by Daniel Greenberg, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. That office looks into alleged breaches of the House of Commons rules on MPs' conduct and their registered financial interests. Farage was interviewed by Mr Greenberg last month, and as of 23 October Reform was expected to be told of the verdict at any time.

Under the process, an MP under investigation can present further evidence to the Commons standards committee and appeal through an independent expert panel. Reform has said it plans to use that route if any adverse findings are made.

The gift itself has been the subject of public questions for months. Harborne's lawyers have claimed that Farage received the money on 5 April 2024, shortly before Farage announced he would stand in the 2024 general election. A Reform UK spokesperson said the money did not need to be declared because it was a "personal unconditional gift". Harborne has also given £15m to the party, according to a Guardian report from July. Hansard, the official record of Commons proceedings, describes him as a Thai-based billionaire and Reform donor. Farage has said it is "not the public's business" to know how he spends the £5m.

The matter first reached the watchdog in April, when the Conservative Party referred Farage over an alleged undeclared crypto donation. In May, the standards commissioner's website listed him as under investigation for a possible "failure to register an interest".

If a verdict were to recommend a suspension from the Commons of more than 10 days, and Parliament agreed to it, constituents could trigger a recall petition. That requires signatures from 10% of voters in the constituency within six weeks. If it succeeded, Farage could face a by-election in Clacton, the seat he holds.

Separately, Channel 4 reporting, produced with the investigative outlet Verbatim, led to a police inquiry into alleged attempts to arrange illegal overseas donations to Reform UK. After that reporting, James Orr was suspended as the party's head of policy, and Dan Jukes was suspended as Farage's communications chief. Harvey Griffiths is now the party's treasurer and plays a central role in its day-to-day business. Tom Waterhouse, the general secretary, has taken on vetting.