Nigel Farage claims £5m gift was just reward for 27 years of Brexit campaigning

Nigel Farage has insisted he ‘is not a crook’ after buying a £1.4million house in cash shortly after being gifted £5million.

The Reform UK leader is facing an investigation by the Commons sleaze watchdog over the £5 million gift from Christopher Harborne.

Farage has hit out at reports that he bought the property shortly after the donation which he previously said was for his personal security.

He insisted there was no connection between the £5 million gift and the property he bought soon after.

Speaking to The Sun he said the cash was a reward for campaigning for Brexit for so long.

He said: ‘It’s very unusual for someone to give up 27 years of their life to campaign for something.

‘And this was given to me on an unconditional basis, completely unconditional basis. But frankly, it was given as a reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years.’

On the investigation, he added: ‘Five fraud investigations into me when I was an MEP. I mean, you know, they came round on an annual basis. As far as this is concerned, I’m the least bit concerned.’

‘No one cares. They care if you’re a crook, which I’m not and never have been. But the fact that I made a few quid doing things, this doesn’t worry people at all.’

Property records show the purchase of the house was completed in May 2024, weeks before he decided to stand in the general election, according to Sky News.

A Reform UK spokesperson said both the offer and purchase process commenced before the gift from Mr Harborne.

They added: ‘Mr Farage had already passed proof of funds and the relevant checks before receiving the gift.

‘The purchase was therefore already proceeding independently of it.’

Reform UK is considering legal options in response to the report.

Commenting on Twitter, Mr Farage said: ‘This is fake news by the establishment media who will do anything to hurt Reform as we challenge their cosy consensus.

‘I had passed proof-of-funds and the relevant checks before receiving the gift.

‘Sky News did not publish that part of our statement despite knowing the truth.’

Mr Farage is facing an investigation by the Commons sleaze watchdog over the £5 million gift from Mr Harborne.

The Reform UK leader was referred to Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Daniel Greenberg over the undeclared gift from the Thailand-based cryptocurrency investor in 2024.

Mr Farage has previously insisted there is ‘no case to answer’ over the gift, which he said was not connected to his political activity and was needed to pay for private security for the rest of his life.

He is reported to have received the money in 2024 before he announced he would stand in Clacton at that year’s general election.

It is understood, the commissioner has opened an investigation under rule five of the MPs’ code of conduct, which specifies new MPs should register relevant financial interests received in the 12 months before their election within one month of entering Parliament.