LONDON: The British parliamentary sleaze watchdog will probe hard-right politician Nigel Farage’s non-disclosure of a £5 million gift from a billionaire donor to his party, UK media reported Wednesday.
The probe comes as the parliament has tightened rules on political donations and after Farage’s anti-immigration Reform UK party scored massive gains in local elections.
The parliament’s standards commissioner investigation concerns a gift from Thailand-based aviation entrepreneur and crypto investor Christopher Harborne, who last year donated £12 million to Reform UK.
Farage and Reform UK told British media that he did not declare the £5 million because it was a personal gift to pay for his personal security, which Harborne corroborated.
The probe has been launched by Daniel Greenberg, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, who investigates alleged breaches of the MPs’ code of conduct and registers.
