Farage faces potential by-election over undisclosed gift inquiry

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 21:13 · Archive

A parliamentary standards investigation into whether Nigel Farage should have declared a £5m cryptocurrency gift is expected to conclude within days.

A parliamentary standards investigation into Nigel Farage's undisclosed financial interests is expected to reach its conclusion within days, according to sources close to the inquiry. The investigation concerns a £5m gift from Thai-based cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne, which Farage received before returning to frontline politics ahead of the 2024 general election. Parliamentary rules require MPs to register financial interests and benefits received in the 12 months before their election.

Farage won the Clacton by-election in August with an increased majority of 12,784 votes and was interviewed by Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Daniel Greenberg last month. He denies any wrongdoing, claiming the gift was intended to fund his personal security. The Conservative Party has indicated it is preparing for the possibility of another contest, with sources saying the party expects to select its candidate by the end of the month.

If the standards commissioner refers the case to the Committee of Standards, that body could trigger a recall petition in Clacton. A by-election would only proceed if 10 per cent of registered voters in the constituency signed the petition. The Committee of Standards, made up of four Labour MPs, two Conservative MPs and one Liberal Democrat MP, would need to suspend Farage for more than 10 days to trigger the recall process.

How it is being reported

• Nigel Farage at risk of second Clacton by-election as Commons probe into £5million gift expected in daysNigel Farage is at risk of facing a second by-election in Clacton after insiders revealed the parliamentary standards commissioner will reveal its findings into whether the Reform UK leader should have declared a £5million gift in just days. Mr Farage, who won August's Clacton by-election with an increased majority of 12,784 votes, was interviewed by the standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg last month. The Reform UK leader received the £5million gift from the Thai-based cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne before returning to frontline politics ahead of the 2024 General…GB News · 8 Oct, 21:01
• Farage could face another Clacton by-election before ChristmasThe parliamentary standards investigation into the Reform UK leader's £5m undisclosed gift is close to reaching a conclusion, sources sayThe i Paper · 8 Oct, 14:00

In this story: Nigel Farage · Christopher Harborne · Daniel Greenberg · Reform UK · Clacton · Committee of Standards

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