Nigel Farage has said “it’s not the public’s business” to know details of how he spends a \u00a35m gift from a billionaire Reform UK donor.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the BBC, the Reform leader said the money from British cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne was an “unconditional gift, I can spend it on cars if I want to”.<\/p>\n
He went on to say the money was for his personal security and he will need protection “until the day that I die”, but declined to confirm how much he has spent.<\/p>\n
Farage has argued he did not need to declare the gift because he received it before he was elected as Clacton MP and it was not political. The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is investigating whether he broke the rules.<\/p>\n
Labour and other rival parties believe Farage has questions to answer over the gift received in early 2024.<\/p>\n
The Commons code of conduct states that new MPs “must register all their current financial interests, and any registrable benefits (other than earnings) received in the 12 months before their election within one month of their election”.<\/p>\n
The rules say “purely personal gifts or benefits” from family or commercial loans would not normally have to be registered.<\/p>\n
The rules also say “both the possible motive of the giver and the use to which the gift is to be put should be considered”, adding “if there is any doubt, the benefit should be registered”.<\/p>\n
Farage replied “I have not” when asked on ITV’s Good Morning Britain for details of what he had spent the money on.<\/p>\n
Asked on BBC Breakfast to clarify what the money was for, Farage spoke about the threats to his personal safety and said “most times” the state had refused his requests for help.<\/p>\n
On how much of the money he has spent, Farage replied: “It’s literally none of your business.<\/p>\n
“If I’d given it to charity, the truth is I haven’t, I know what it’s for.”<\/p>\n
Pressed on whether he has spent any of the money, Farage repeated it is “none of your business” before asking presenter Sally Nugent how much of her salary had been spent on petrol and beer.<\/p>\n
Told it was the public’s business to know, Farage replied: “No, it’s not the public’s business.”<\/p>\n
Asked again to say how much of the \u00a35m has been spent on security, Farage said: “No, I’m not going to answer that deliberately, wilfully.<\/p>\n
“It’s not your business at the BBC to put me in danger therefore I will not answer it.”<\/p>\n
Nugent replied “we’re not putting you in any danger at all”, with Farage saying: “If I answer that question you are, so I won’t.”<\/p>\n
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Farage was asked if he would give the money back and replied by asking presenter Nick Robinson if he would give his salary to charity.<\/p>\n
Asked again about whether he would give the money back, Farage said: “What on earth has that got to do with you?<\/p>\n
“If I did it’d be a purely private matter as the money was in the first place.”<\/p>\n