Bankers Report Nigel Farage's £5m Gift to NCA as Clacton Byelection Fight Deepens
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 8
Bankers Report Nigel Farage's £5m Gift to NCA as Clacton Byelection Fight Deepens
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 8
Summary
Bankers filed a suspicious activity report with the National Crime Agency on 16 May 2024 over a £5 million gift to Nigel Farage from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, citing money-laundering concerns.
The report does not prove wrongdoing, but it intensifies scrutiny of Farage’s finances after he said he did not know about any SAR and had no reason to doubt the money’s source.
Fresh pressure landed a day after Farage resigned his Clacton seat to trigger a byelection; Labour demanded he cooperate with the NCA, while the Liberal Democrats urged a delay pending a parliamentary inquiry.
Reform deputy leader Richard Tice accused the NCA of leaking confidential financial information, as Farage continued to deny wrongdoing and dispute claims he had to disclose the payment.
The case also sharpens questions over timing: industry sources say at least some of the money arrived after Farage said on 23 May 2024 he would not stand for parliament, with the rest landing shortly before he reversed course on 3 June.