Farage Defends £5 Million Gift as Private as Standards Probe Examines Disclosure
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 23
Farage Defends £5 Million Gift as Private as Standards Probe Examines Disclosure
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 23
Summary
Nigel Farage said spending details of a £5 million gift from donor Christopher Harborne are "not the public's business," refusing to say how much has been used.
Farage described the money as an unconditional personal gift for lifelong security, saying he received it before becoming Clacton MP and therefore did not need to declare it.
That claim is now under scrutiny from the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, as Commons rules require new MPs to register relevant benefits received in the 12 months before election if there is doubt.
Rival parties have seized on the issue, with Labour and the Conservatives questioning the gift and the Liberal Democrats using the 10th Brexit anniversary to attack Farage over what he once called a "reward".