Farage said details of the £5m gift cost were ‘not public business’

Nigel Farage has said it is “not a matter of public opinion” to find out the details of how he will spend a £5m gift from a billionaire Reform UK donor.

Speaking to the BBC, the Reform leader said the money from British cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harbor was “an unconditional gift, I’d spend it on a car if I wanted to”.

He went on to say that the money was for his personal security and that he “needs protection until the day I die,” but declined to say how much he spent.

Farage argued that he did not need to declare the gift because he received the gift before Clacton was elected as an MP and it was not political. The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is investigating whether he broke the rules.

Labor and other competing parties They believe Farage has questions to answer on the offer he received in early 2024.

The Commons Code of Conduct states that new MPs must “declare all their current financial interests and any recordable benefits (other than income) within one month of their election in the 12 months preceding their election”.

The rules say that “personal gifts or benefits” from family or business loans do not have to be formally recorded.

The rules say that “the purpose of the gift and the purpose of the gift should be considered”, he said, “if there is doubt, the benefit should be recorded”.

“I haven’t,” Farage replied on ITV’s Good Morning Britain for details on what he spent the money on.

Asked on BBC Breakfast to explain why the money is being used, Farage spoke of his personal safety concerns and said that “most of the time” the state has turned down requests for help.

Asked how much he spent, Farage replied: “It’s literally none of your business.”

“If I gave to charity, the truth is, I don’t have it. I know what it is.”

Concerned about whether he had spent any of the money, Farage repeated: “None of your business” before asking presenter Sally Nugent how much of her salary she had spent on gas and beer.

When told it was a public matter to know, Farage replied: “No, it’s not a public matter.”

Asked to repeat how much of the £5m was spent on security, Farage said: “No, I will not answer that on purpose, on purpose.

“It’s none of your BBC business to put me in danger so I won’t answer.”

“We’re not going to put you in any danger,” Nugent replied to Farage.