Nigel Farage has defended a £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, calling it a 'purely private matter' and telling critics it is 'not any of your business'. The Reform UK leader, who has called for a general election after Keir Starmer stood down as Labour leader, rejected accusations of hypocrisy over his previous attacks on Starmer for accepting donations of glasses and suits.
Farage Defends Crypto Donation
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Farage insisted the gift from Harborne, a British-Thai businessman, was a private affair. 'Number one, I wasn't in politics. Number two, I don't believe there's anything in the rules that says I had to declare it. Number three, of course, it is being investigated by standards, so perhaps I'd better not say too much,' he said.
Farage, who was a GB News presenter at the time of the donation in 2024, denied being paid to promote cryptocurrency interests. He argued that even if London became a crypto trading hub, it would be a minor part of the global market. The Reform leader also rejected claims of hypocrisy, stating that Starmer was 'the leader of the opposition and I was a presenter on GB News'.
Brexit Anniversary Remarks
Speaking on the 10th anniversary of the Brexit vote, Farage said he did not regret the outcome but criticised the establishment for failing to implement the public's wishes. 'That is why we've had seven prime ministers in the course of the last 10 years,' he said. 'They haven't accepted the public vote with good will, and they haven't implemented it.'
Farage previously described the Harborne donation as 'a reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years'. When asked if he would return the money if found to have broken parliamentary rules, he replied: 'I don't think it's any of your business, frankly. And if, however, if the standards commissioner decides that it is, we'll talk about it again.'
Cabinet Office Minister Backs Burnham
Meanwhile, Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds expressed disappointment that an EU summit was rearranged due to the Labour leadership change. He backed Andy Burnham to succeed Starmer, citing his performance as Greater Manchester mayor and his victory in Makerfield. 'I think he has shown, Andy, comprehensively as the mayor of Greater Manchester, that he can carry out that job of delivery,' Thomas-Symonds told Sky News.
