Since July 2024 when he finally became the MP after seven unsuccessful bids, the ex-Ukip leader has recieved almost £2million in income and gifts – with a third from foreign sources
Reform UK chief Nigel Farage has accepted over half a million pounds from foreign governments, companies and donors since becoming an MP.
Since July 2024 when he finally became the MP after seven unsuccessful bids, the ex-Ukip leader has received almost £2million in income and gifts. A third of this – £675,000 – comes from foreign sources, according to an analysis by Desmog and is on top of Mr Farage’s £94,000-per-year salary as an MP. Of Farage’s 28 benefactors, 20 are based abroad – or 71%.
It comes amid growing scrutiny of foreign influences on British democracy following attempts by the Labour government to clamp down on overseas donations to UK political parties.
Mr Farage’s largest foreign income stream has been Cameo – the U.S. platform where celebrities record videos for money – having earned £222,000 from the website since being elected to Parliament. He stopped selling filmed messages for £71 each on the website last month.
The Reform leader has also been paid for a range of foreign speaking events, including £40,000 to address Nomad Capitalist Live in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in September 2024. Nomad Capitalist, which is based in Hong Kong, advises the super rich how to cut their tax bills. Mr Farage has also received gifts from foreign governments.
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As revealed by DeSmog, the Abu Dhabi government provided tickets and hospitality worth £10,000 for Farage to attend the local Formula One Grand Prix in December.
Labour’s chair Anna Turley told The Mirror: “Nigel Farage rarely turns up to do his actual job. Yet he finds time to jet off around the world on his donor’s private plane and trouser half a million quid while families struggle. Reform are not on your side. They’re just in it for themselves.”
Despite claiming to represent working-class voters, Mr Farage – the UK’s highest-paid MP – has also received private jet trips worth £85,000 from major Reform donor Christopher Harborne. The billionaire cryptocurrency investor lives in Thailand.
Director of the campaign group Unlock Democracy Tom Brake said: “An MP’s only real job should be representing their constituents. Yet sadly, for some MPs, supplementing their own income appears to have greater appeal.
“This is bad enough, but what is even more concerning is when MPs receive income from foreign sources, particularly foreign governments or organisations closely aligned with them. These financial relationships always risk giving undue influence and leverage to foreign entities, which UK legislators should avoid at all costs.”
In March, the Rycroft Review was released, a government report from former Foreign Office permanent secretary Philip Rycroft, which summarised the threats to British democracy from overseas actors.
“This country faces a persistent problem of foreign interests seeking to exert influence on, and to interfere in, our politics,” Rycroft said. “Too much of this is malign and seeks to sow distrust and exacerbate divisions in UK society, with the ultimate aim of undermining confidence in our democracy… If government does not act swiftly to gear up to counter these threats, there is a real risk they will run away from us.”
Reform UK has been contacted for comment.