Opposition Seeks New Farage Probe Over Undeclared Support as £5m Gift Inquiry Continues
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 6
Opposition Seeks New Farage Probe Over Undeclared Support as £5m Gift Inquiry Continues
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 6
Summary
Opposition parties want Parliament’s standards commissioner to examine whether Nigel Farage should have declared support from ally George Cottrell, adding pressure to an inquiry already open since May.
The Sunday Times reported Cottrell paid for staff handling Farage’s security and social media before the election, and that Farage used a property near Buckingham Palace rented by Cottrell.
Commons rules require newly elected MPs to register gifts, benefits and accommodation tied to political or parliamentary activity in the 12 months before election, though purely personal support can be exempt.
Farage says he followed the rules and calls the allegations an “establishment hit job”; Robert Jenrick said pre-election help from a personal friend was allowed, while Cottrell disputes the report’s assertions.
Greenberg is already investigating Farage’s failure to declare a £5 million gift from donor Christopher Harborne; penalties could range from a late registration to suspension, with any ban over 10 days triggering a recall vote.