Farage reported to parliament’s standards watchdog over undeclared £5m donation, as Tories say ‘this stinks’
The Conservatives have announced that they are referring Nigel Farage to the parliamentary commissioner over the Guardian’s report saying he was given £5m by the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne shortly before announcing that he would be a candidate at the 2024 election.
Kevin Hollinrake, the Tory chair, said:
As a new member of parliament, Farage was obliged to report to the House of Commons all political donations and political gifts he had received during the previous 12 months.
The Conservatives are today referring Nigel Farage to the parliamentary standards commissioner.
This £5m from the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne raises serious questions. What is Nigel Farage hiding? And why does Reform think the rules don’t apply to them? This stinks and Reform should come clean now.
Key events
Labour claims Farage’s undeclared £5m donation broke parliamentary rules
The Labour party is also accusing Nigel Farage of breaking the rules on declaring political donations. (See 12.45pm.) In a statement, Anna Turley, the Labour chair, said:
Nigel Farage appears to have broken the rules again by failing to declare this cash from his billionaire backer.
Reform have repeatedly tried to dodge scrutiny over their deputy leader Richard Tice’s tax scandal. It’s simply not good enough for Reform to gloss over these egregious acts and further erode public trust in politics.
It’s just the latest alarming example of Farage and his MPs believing there is one rule for them and another for everyone else.
Farage reported to parliament’s standards watchdog over undeclared £5m donation, as Tories say ‘this stinks’
The Conservatives have announced that they are referring Nigel Farage to the parliamentary commissioner over the Guardian’s report saying he was given £5m by the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne shortly before announcing that he would be a candidate at the 2024 election.
Kevin Hollinrake, the Tory chair, said:
As a new member of parliament, Farage was obliged to report to the House of Commons all political donations and political gifts he had received during the previous 12 months.
The Conservatives are today referring Nigel Farage to the parliamentary standards commissioner.
This £5m from the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne raises serious questions. What is Nigel Farage hiding? And why does Reform think the rules don’t apply to them? This stinks and Reform should come clean now.
PMQs is over, but Catherine West (Lab) uses a point of order to say MPs will be concerned about the report of two Jewish men being stabbed in north London.
Starmer says he was told about this before PMQs. It is “deeply concerning”, he says. There is a police investigation, and the government will support it. He says the government is determined to stop attacks like this. There have been far too many of them recently, he says.
Sarah Gibson (Lib Dem) says she is trying to deal with a landfill site in her constituency producing sulphurous smells. But the Environment Agency is not doing anything about this?
Starmer says he will chase up this issue.
Pam Cox (Lab) says Labour MPs have passed 60 bills affecting all aspects of British life. Does the PM agree the best is yet to come?
Starmer says the government is only just getting started.
Lee Pitcher (Lab) asks about Doncast airport.
Starmer says he is deeply concerned about reports saying the Reform UK council is putting plans to reopen the airport in jeopardy.
Iqbal Mohamed (Ind) asks about the revelation that the Foriegn Office is closing a unit that monitors human rights breaches.
Starmer says the work of the Foreign Office’s human rights team will not end. “It not seem to be done by a different team under a restructure,” he says.
Starmer says the government is making real progress on the NHS. Waiting lists are at their lowest for three years, A&E waiting times their lowest for five years. This did not happen under the Tories.
Olly Glover (Lib Dem) asks if the government will abandon “the developer model” and look at Lib Dem plans for more social housing.
Starmer says the government is committed to building 1.5m new homes. He says the Lib Dems abstained on legislation for this.
Luke Evans (Con) asks why, if Starmer did nothing wrong, he got his MPs to vote against a privileges committee inquiry.
Starmer says it is because they can recognise a political stunt when they see one.
Natasha Irons (Lab) asks what Labour is doing for renters.
Starmer says he is proud to say no fault evictions will be illegal from Friday.
Anna Dixon (Lab) says when she campaigns, she is particularly proud of Labour’s record on breakfast clubs, free childcare and zero-hours contracts. What is Starmer most proud of?
Starmer says the government has extended workers’ rights, taken children out of poverty, and is dealing with a war on two fronts.
Rushanara Ali (Lab) asks about a life sciences investment.
Starmer says he is able to announce that AstraZeneca is confirming an investment in the UK today.
