Nigel Farage reported to Commons authorities over grooming gang donation claims

Nigel Farage has been reported to Parliament authorities for allegedly promoting a drive for cash donations in the Commons.

The Reform UK leader was accused of a potential breach of the MPs’ code of conduct, after he made comments about fundraising for the party – of which he is the largest shareholder.

Daisy Cooper, the Deputy Lib Dem wrote to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, taking issue with Mr Farage apparently promoting plans to raise funds to pay for their own so-called “independent inquiry” into grooming gangs.

“If the Government will not hold it,” Mr Farage said in the Commons, “we will raise the money at Reform UK and appoint independent arbiters, because we need the truth to be out there.”

Ms Cooper argued this amounted to “promoting” a “fundraising appeal for his party’s coffers.”

She told the Sunday Mirror : ” Nigel Farage ’s claims about being able to launch a Reform UK-led inquiry into grooming gangs are ludicrous and misleading. Without the powers to compel anyone to give evidence, it looks like he is trying to cloak what will in effect be a fundraising appeal.

“Seeking financial gain out of a tragedy like this is bad enough, but Nigel Farage is also potentially in danger of breaching rules by using his platform in Parliament to do so.

“It seems as though there is no limit to how low Farage is willing to stoop for his own gain.”

MPs are not allowed to say or do anything in the Commons that could benefit them financially.

Despite Mr Farage’s claim to have democratised and professionalised the arty, Reform UK is still set up as a limited company – with Mr Farage the largest shareholder.

She wrote in the letter: “It is clearly not possible for a political party to hold an inquiry of this sort given that only the government can establish an inquiry with the powers to compel witnesses to give evidence under oath.

“Irrespective of the merits or otherwise of holding a government-backed inquiry of this sort, it seems that Mr Farage was instead promoting what would in effect be a fundraising appeal for his party’s coffers.”

In the letter, Ms Cooper wrote: “Given that Mr Farage’s comments in the Chamber would likely result in a direct financial benefit to Reform UK Party Limited, I believe there is a case to answer as to whether Mr Farage has sought to confer a financial benefit upon an identifiable organisation in which he himself has declared a financial interest.”

A spokesman for Nigel Farage said: “The Lib Dems care more about political point scoring than having an inquiry into the mass rape gang scandal”

“They should get their priorities straight”