Nigel Farage Under Scrutiny for $6.7 Million Donation from Tether Billionaire

According to a report by The Guardian, Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, received a substantial donation of £5 million, equivalent to approximately $6.7 million, from Christopher Harborne, a billionaire with ties to Tether, prior to his announcement to run for the Clacton seat in 2024. This has led to accusations from the Conservative and Labour parties that Farage has broken House of Commons rules by not declaring the gift. In response, Farage acknowledged the donation in an interview, stating it was intended to ensure his safety and security following past incidents, including a milkshake attack in 2019 and a firebomb incident at his home. Harborne, who holds a 12% stake in Tether, made the donation in 2024, before Farage's candidacy announcement and subsequent win in the Clacton seat. A spokesperson for Reform UK characterized the payment as a 'personal unconditional gift' unrelated to Farage's decision to stand for election, asserting that everything has been properly declared in accordance with the rules. The Commons code of conduct requires new MPs to register benefits received in the 12 months preceding their election, with any doubt necessitating registration. However, Reform UK claims the gift is exempt as it falls under the category of purely personal gifts. The Conservative Party has requested that Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg investigate whether any of the donated funds were used for political activities rather than security, with Labour chair Anna Turley stating that Farage 'appears to have broken the rules again.' This development comes amid a broader discussion on crypto donations in UK politics, including a recent moratorium on such donations due to concerns about foreign money influencing UK political parties.