Nigel Farage faces a significant headache as probe into his funds reopens after by-election
A parliamentary standards investigation into Nigel Farage has reopened following his win in the Clacton by-election. It had been suspended after he triggered the contest
Nigel Farage arrives to cast his vote
Embattled Nigel Farage faces fresh misery after a probe into his finances reopened just hours after his controversial by-election victory.
There was little to celebrate for the Reform UK leader, who was plunged back into questions over an alleged undeclared £5million donation from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. Mr Farage was accused of trying to dodge the parliamentary standards investigation when he resigned as the MP for Clacton-on-Sea last month, triggering this week’s chaotic poll.
It was boycotted by all the main Westminster parties, but still attracted a record 34 candidates. The loaded ex-banker came out on top with 63% of the vote – but was mocked for skipping the vote count over what he said were safety concerns.
Candidates including Count Binface(Image: ANDY RAIN/EPA/Shutterstock)
The probe into the alleged failure to register an interest was suspended after he triggered the contest. But it is now automatically running again after Mr Farage was returned as MP for Clacton.
Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats said his victory would not draw a line under the controversy over the money he received from Thailand-based Reform donor Christopher Harborne before he was first elected to the Essex seat in 2024.
Under Commons rules, new MPs are required to register any gifts worth more than £300 they received in the previous 12 months, except where it “could not be reasonably thought by others” to relate to their political activities. Mr Farage has said the gift was not political and insisted he has done nothing wrong.
Speaking to supporters before the results were declared, he said: “I’m damned if I’m going to stand on a stage, having won a resounding victory, a ringing endorsement of all that I’ve tried to fight for, and you’ve tried to fight for, and be demeaned and humiliated by nobodies, and I will not sadly be attending the count.”
Reform UK went on to cancel what was billed as a “major speech” by Mr Farage in Clacton on Friday (August 14), along with some scheduled media appearance.
In a statement, the party leader said: “The verdict is now in, and it is a convincing, overwhelming win, with more votes than we got in the general election of 2024. Today, the voters in Clacton have stuck up two fingers to the entire political establishment.”
The by-election took place in Clacton, Essex(Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he recognised that voters in the area had “come up with their answer” to whether Mr Farage was fit to represent them. But he insisted the investigation into his funding should continue.
He added: “It needs to be resolved to make sure we’ve got the highest standards in politics, and that’s incumbent on all of us, including Mr Farage.”
Mr Farage received 22,239 votes, while second place Count Binface got 9,455 – far higher than predicted by pollsters and bookies. But hours after the result was declared, the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards announced: “The investigation is not suspended anymore.”
If he is found to have breached parliamentary rules, he could face suspension from the House of Commons and a process that could trigger another by-election in Clacton, potentially forcing him to fight for his seat again. The bill for this week’s vote is expected to rise from the original £250,000 estimate, due to the number of candidates involved.
