Nigel Farage ‘cellphone hack’ reported to police after Reform misses 24 hour deadline
Labour chair Anna Turley has reported Nigel Farage’s supposed Russian phone hack to police and the National Cyber Security Centre as questions mount about the Reform leader’s claim
Nigel Farage claimed his phone was hacked, but Reform has not confirmed who it was reported to(Image: Getty Images Europe)
Labour has reported Nigel Farage’s supposed Russian phone hack to security services and police after Reform failed to prove it had done so.
Mr Farage was given a 24 hour deadline earlier this week to confirm he had alerted authorities after he claimed Kremlin-backed hackers had accessed his device. But this was not met.
At the weekend, the Reform leader insisted details of a £5million gift he received from a crypto billionaire only came to light because his phone was compromised. Reform told the media it had notified “relevant authorities”, but has not since elaborated.
There has been scepticism after Mr Farage said his phone had been examined by counter-espionage experts who pointed their fingers at Russia. The Mirror has asked the party for clarification, but has not been given an answer.
In a letter to Mr Farage, Labour chair Anna Turley wrote: “As I have said previously, quite apart from the implications for you personally, the alleged crime is an incredibly serious one with potential wider implications for Britain’s national security, the integrity of our politics and public confidence in our democratic system. It is therefore essential that any evidence of hostile-state hacking or foreign interference is placed in the hands of the proper authorities for thorough and independent investigation.
“Since then, a Reform spokesperson has issued a vague response to the media, which fails to confirm exactly which authorities this potentially serious national security breach has been reported to.
“I have therefore today contacted the National Cyber Security Centre and the Metropolitan Police to ensure that the suspicions you and Reform UK have publicly raised are investigated properly. I have done so because it is in the national interest to do so.”
On Wednesday Ms Turley told Mr Farage that unless he produced proof that he had passed his suspicions of phone, email and bank account hacking to the NCSC and police, she would do so herself.
Labour has now reported allegations of hostile state activity by Russia to the Metropolitan Police and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). It said it remains unclear what proactive action Reform has taken.
Earlier this week the NCSC’s former chief, Ciaran Martin, branded Mr Farage’s version of events “an entirely unsubstantiated claim” and said it would be difficult to conclude Russia was involved based on examining a phone.
Mr Farage has come under fire after it emerged last month that he had been given £5million by Reform mega-donor Christopher Harborne before the general election in 2024. The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is probing whether rules for MPs were broken.
Mr Farage insists it was an unconditional personal gift. When it was first reported he said it was to pay for his security, but he subsequently described it as a reward for campaigning for Brexit.
Ms Turley wrote: “While this is being investigated, serious questions still remain unanswered about the undeclared £5 million ‘gift’ which you received from Christopher Harborne. Originally you claimed that the money was a ‘purely personal’ gift for your personal security, however you have since changed your story and now suggest it was in fact a reward for your Brexit campaigning.
“Moreover, you have repeatedly refused to provide a full and transparent account of how the money has been spent, and you have failed to say if Harborne has given any other undeclared money to yourself or Reform politicians.” She told the Reform leader: “It is long overdue that you took the opportunity to do so and levelled with the British people.”
Reform UK has been contacted for comment. On Wednesday a Reform spokesperson claimed it had been reported, but did not say to who. They said: “It has been reported to the relevant authorities. It would be inappropriate to comment further while investigations are ongoing.”
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) could not say if a report had been made. A spokesperson said: “We stand ready to support with any suspected cyber incident that is reported to us. Defending democracy is always our priority and we provide a range of expert guidance, support and active cyber defence services to help protect individuals from online attacks.”
