Farage’s re-election means £5m gift probe must now resume

The parliamentary standards investigation into Nigel Farage’s £5m gift from a crypto billionaire must now resume at pace, campaigners have stressed.

Nigel Farage has been re-elected as MP for Clacton with 22,239 votes, following the by-election he fought against comedy candidate Count Binface – who won 9,455 votes.

The Reform UK leader is now widely expected to face a resumed parliamentary standards investigation over his failure to disclose a gift of more than £5m from the Reform UK donor Christopher Harborne before becoming an MP, which has also reportedly been referred to the Metropolitan Police.

Farage is also facing scrutiny over his finances more broadly, including a Sunday Times investigation into support he received from long-time ally George Cottrell, who was previously jailed for fraud in the US in 2017.

Naomi Smith, Chief Executive of Best for Britain, said:

“Farage’s re-election is ultimately a net loss for the people of Clacton who are left with an MP who doesn’t care about their interests and holds a fundamental contempt for political transparency – while facing multiple financial sleaze allegations and inquiries.

“It’s vital the Parliamentary standards investigation into the £5m gift he accepted from a crypto billionaire now resumes at pace. No one must be beyond scrutiny, least of all those elected to serve the public, and voters rightly do not accept that an MP can escape consequences for behaviour which could see most UK workers hauled over the coals.”