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Standards watchdog resumes inquiry into Nigel Farage over undeclared gifts

The investigation could ultimately trigger a recall petition and a Clacton byelection if Farage is suspended from the Commons for at least 10 sitting days.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Trade & Tariffs

The UK parliamentary standards commissioner has resumed a suspended investigation into Nigel Farage after the Reform UK leader was re-elected as MP for Clacton, according to the commissioner’s website and coverage by the Guardian Business.

The two-part probe examines whether Farage failed to declare a purported £5m gift from Thailand-based businessman Christopher Harborne before the last election, and whether he also failed to disclose support from his friend, fraudster George Cottrell, including letting Farage use a London home and paying for some social media filming in 2024.

The commissioner, Daniel Greenberg, had paused the process after Farage resigned and called a byelection in protest, with the earlier suspension dating from 8 July when Farage stepped down.

The Guardian Business reports that if Farage is found to have broken parliamentary rules and is suspended from the Commons for at least 10 sitting days, it could lead to a recall petition, where a byelection is called if at least 10% of local voters demand it.

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