Nigel Farage Rejects Calls to Disclose $6.7M Gift

TLDR

• Nigel Farage said he had no obligation to declare the $6.7 million personal gift from Christopher Harborne.
• He stated that the £5 million payment was unconditional and not linked to political activity.
• Conservative officials referred the matter to Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg for review.
• Christopher Harborne holds a 12% stake in Tether and has donated £12 million to Reform UK.
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a moratorium on cryptocurrency donations to UK political parties.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage rejected calls to declare a $6.7 million personal gift from crypto investor Christopher Harborne. He said the £5 million payment carried no political conditions and required no disclosure. Meanwhile, opposition parties asked the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner to review the matter.

Nigel Farage Defends $6.7M Gift From Tether Stakeholder

Nigel Farage said he had “no obligation” to declare the $6.7 million gift from Christopher Harborne. He told broadcasters that the payment was “an unconditional, non-political, personal gift.” He added, “Believe you me, we’ve looked at this from every legal angle.” He said the law did not require disclosure of such gifts.

Farage linked the payment to past threats against him, including a firebomb attack on his home. He said the funds would help “ensure I can be safe for the rest of my life.” He confirmed he would not refer himself to Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg. He argued there was “no case to answer” under current rules.

Conservative officials referred the issue to Daniel Greenberg for independent review. They asked him to examine whether any part of the £5 million supported political activity. Labour chair Anna Turley said Farage “appears to have broken the rules again.” Reform UK stated the gift arrived before Farage planned to stand for Parliament.

Reports revealed the payment occurred in June 2024, months before Farage announced his Clacton candidacy. The transaction did not appear in disclosures under UK campaign finance laws. Reform UK maintained that timing placed the gift outside reporting requirements. The party denied any breach of election law.

Crypto Donations Face Scrutiny After Rycroft Review

Christopher Harborne resides in Thailand and holds a 12% stake in stablecoin issuer Tether. He has donated £12 million to Reform UK through separate contributions. His £9 million donation last year became the largest single political gift from a living individual. He confirmed the $6.7 million payment to Farage was “unconditional and irrevocable.”

Harborne told the Telegraph he expected nothing in return except Farage’s safety. He said he believed he influenced the government’s decision to cap overseas donations. He stated he did not believe the government had “a right to stop me.” He did not rule out returning to the UK to bypass donation limits.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced an immediate moratorium on cryptocurrency donations to political parties. The government triggered the move after an independent review led by Philip Rycroft. The ban applies to all crypto donations received from today. Parties must return any crypto within 30 days.

Philip Rycroft warned that hostile actors could exploit crypto assets to channel foreign funds. He said the risk was “unacceptable” and required urgent action. He described the moratorium as an “interlude” rather than a permanent ban. He clarified that donors could still convert crypto into fiat and donate through banks.

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