Nigel Farage has told friends he is worried about the prospect of a by-election over the £5m gift he received from a crypto billionaire, according to reports.
No matter how much he may try and bat away questions about it, the secret £5m Farage received from Christopher Harborne has become the story that simply won’t go away for the Reform leader.
It all started earlier this year when the Guardian revealed that Farage had received the sum from Thailand-based Harborne in 2024, just weeks before he announced his U-turn decision to stand in the general election that summer.
Farage did not declare the sum, which he has described as an “unconditional gift.” Commons rules state that newly elected MPs are required to declare any benefits or financial support connected to their political activities in the year before an election.
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Parliament’s standards commissioner has launched an investigation into whether Farage should have declared the sum.
At the same time, Farage’s story about the sum has changed a bit. He has both claimed the money was given to him so he could pay for his own private security and that it was a reward for years of Brexit campaigning.
Last month, he refused to tell outlets and news channels what he has spent the money on, saying he could ‘spend it on Ferraris’ if he wanted to.
As everyone awaits with baited breath the outcome of the standards investigation into the money, it seems that Farage is starting to sweat a bit over his political future.
A report in the i Paper this week has claimed that Farage is worried about the prospect a by-election in his Clacton constituency should he be found to have broken parliamentary rules.
Sanctions for a breach of the rules range from an apology in the House of Commons to a suspension. However, if Farage was hit with a ban of 10 days or more from the Commons, he could face the prospect of a recall petition in his constituency.
This could then trigger a by-election should at least 10 per cent of eligible voters in the constituency sign the petition.
An insider told the i Paper that Farage had spoken to friends about his concern over a potential by-election.
This week, several Reform voices have suggested that Farage should take a break from politics, including former party chair David Bull.
Top Reform backer Tim Montgomerie also admitted on the BBC that Farage still has questions to answer over the money.
Restore Britain founder Rupert Lowe – who it’s safe to say has a bit of a grudge against Farage and Reform – has already vowed that his party would throw everything at a by-election in Clacton.