Nigel Farage claims he had ‘no obligation’ to declare £5 million gift from crypto billionaire as it ‘wasn’t political’

Nigel Farage has tried to justify not declaring a £5 million gift from Thailand-based billionaire Christopher Harborne in the MPs’ register of interests, arguing that it was “unconditional”.

In an interview with the BBC yesterday, the Reform leader claimed that the information about the donation he received from the cryptocurrency investor was “illegally obtained” and that “it should never be in the public domain”. 

Farage told the journalist that the donation didn’t need to be declared as it was “purely private” and “wasn’t political in any sense at all”.

He also complained about how he made “repeated requests” to the Home Office and the Police for security protection, and that he had “been denied at every twist and turn”. 

When challenged on the rules around declaring donations, Farage interrupted the reporter as she began saying: “The rules are clear though, aren’t they, they say that new MPs…”, before being cut off by Farage.

Farage said: “The rules are very very clear”. 

“And believe you me, we’ve looked at this from every legal angle, there is no obligation to declare something that is an unconditional, non-political, personal gift.”

Reform received £12 million from Harborne in 2025, including a one-off £9 million donation in August last year, the largest single political donation in history.

While Farage says the donation “wasn’t political”, he has promoted pro-cryptocurrency policies, been paid to speak at crypto conferences and made Reform the first political party to start accepting crypto donations. 

In addition, he U-turned on his decision about not standing to become an MP in the 2024 general election, shortly after he received the donation from Harborne. In June 2024, he ruled out standing as a candidate, but just weeks after, said he would be running.

The House of Commons code of conduct states that new MPs “must register all their current financial interests, and any registrable benefits (other than earnings) received in the 12 months before their election within one month of their election”.

The rules say “purely personal gifts or benefits” from family or commercial loans would not normally have to be registered.

The rules also say “both the possible motive of the giver and the use to which the gift is to be put should be considered”, adding “if there is any doubt, the benefit should be registered”.

The Conservatives have reported Farage to the Electoral Commission, on the grounds that he should have declared the donation. The elections watchdog said it is considering the information.

Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward