Starmer says Farage ‘dodging questions’ about £5m gift from crypto billionaire

Prime minister says ‘£5m question still remains’, as pressure grows on Reform UK leader over Christopher Harborne gift

Keir Starmer has pressed Nigel Farage to stop “dodging questions” about the £5m personal gift he received from the Thailand-based crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.

The gift, first revealed by the Guardian , was given to Farage in the months before he stood as an MP in the 2024 general election. It is now under investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner.

During prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, Starmer criticised the Reform UK leader, saying the “£5m question still remains”. He asked: “Why is the leader of Reform dodging questions about his donation and why did he keep it secret in the first place?”

Farage has changed his story over the reasons for receiving the gift. At first he said it was to pay for personal security for his lifetime. As he faced questions about this explanation, Farage changed tack, saying he considered it a reward from Harborne for having campaigned for Brexit .

He has insisted there was no need to declare it to the authorities because he was not an MP at the time.

The standards commissioner is investigating whether it should have been registered, as money received with a relevance to an MP’s political life should be declared from up to a year before they take office. The rules state: “If there is any doubt, the benefit should be registered.”

Starmer’s jibe was made in response to a question from the Liberal Democrat MP Roz Savage, who pressed the prime minister on whether he would introduce a cap on political donations.