Nigel Farage referred to standards watchdog over undisclosed £5m gift

Nigel Farage has been referred to parliament’s standards watchdog after the Guardian revealed he received an undeclared £5m gift from a party donor.

The referral was made by the Conservative party citing rules that require MPs to declare any “personal benefit” they have received in the 12 months before taking office, and to do so within a month of being elected.

The gift from the Thailand-based crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne falls within that period. Some personal gifts are exempt from the reporting rules if they “could not reasonably be thought by others to be related to membership of the House or to the Member’s parliamentary or political activities”, according to the code of conduct and rules for MPs.

The rules add: “Both the possible motive of the giver and the use to which the gift is to be put should be considered. If there is any doubt, the benefit should be registered.”

Christopher Harborne arrives at the V&A Museum during the Conservative summer party. Photograph: George Cracknell Wright/LNP

Farage had stated he did not intend to stand as a prospective MP but U-turned in June 2024, within weeks of receiving the personal gift from Harborne. A spokesperson for Reform said the gift and his decision to stand as an MP were “entirely unrelated”.

The Reform UK leader said in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, after he was approached by the Guardian for comment on its exclusive story, that the gift was made because “Christopher is an ardent supporter who is deeply concerned for my safety”.

Farage has also received taxpayer-funded security since becoming an MP, but it was reported that this was reduced last year. A spokesperson for Reform UK said: “He does not receive any state funded security.”

Kevin Hollinrake, the Tory party chair, said that Farage was “obliged” to declare the gift. “The are today referring Nigel Farage to the parliamentary standards commissioner,” he said.