Elections watchdog considers looking into £5m gift to Farage

The elections watchdog for England and Wales has said it is considering whether to look into the £5m given to Nigel Farage before the last general election.

Reform UK mega donor Christopher Harborne gave the money to Farage in early 2024.

In the correspondence, seen by the BBC, the Conservatives suggested that Farage should "have declared the donation to the Electoral Commission at the time as a regulated donee".

Reform UK said the money was a gift, and that it was given at a time when the now-Reform leader had not yet committed to standing as an MP.

In its response to the Conservative Party, the Commission's Regulatory Action Panel Manager, Eleanor Pearch, said: "I can confirm that we are aware of this matter and are considering it under our regulatory remit.

"We will consider all the available relevant information and recommend what, if any, next steps the Commission will take."

The watchdog promised to reply to the Conservatives no later than 12 May, which comes after next week's elections in Scotland and Wales, and local elections in many parts of England.

A Reform UK spokesperson said that "the money was given as an unconditional gift" to Farage, who at the time was the honorary president of Reform UK and had not committed publicly to stand for Parliament.

The party added he chose to use the money for security.

Farage announced he would stand for Parliament in early June 2024, after the election had been called.

He also said that he would become Reform UK's leader and contest the Clacton-on-Sea constituency in Essex.

Reform's spokesperson added that Farage "wasn't in politics at the time" of the gift and "so it wasn't for campaigning" and "we're confident we have not broken any rules".

However, the Conservatives say that Farage needed to declare the money because they believe he should be treated as a "regulated donee".

Electoral Commission rules say any member of a registered political party could be a "regulated donee" and therefore subject to its rules about declarations.

It is understood Reform UK believe Farage did not fall under any of the categories which would have meant he needed to declare the money.

Reform UK said: "This is a desperate attempt by a Tory party struggling in the polls, who will cease to be a national political party come May 8th."

The Conservatives say Reform UK was a private limited company at the time which Farage "owned".

Information held by Companies House shows that, from May 2021 until February 2025, Farage held between 50% and 75% of the shares in what was known at the time as Reform UK Party Limited.

Farage is listed as a director and the nature of the company's business as the "activities of political organisations".

The Conservatives have also written to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Daniel Greenberg, to claim that Nigel Farage had broken the House of Commons Code of Conduct by "failing to register a political donation".

Mr Greenberg's office would not comment.