Nigel Farage on BBC BreakfastNigel Farage struggled to hide his frustration with journalists on Tuesday as he was quizzed about the £5 million donation he received from a crypto-billionaire.
The Reform UK leader told presenters it was “not any of your business” during spiky interviews on BBC Breakfast and BBC Radio 4′s Today programme.
The Clacton MP has, until now, tried to avoid the spotlight ever since it was revealed he had taken the lump sum from the British Thai-based businessman Christopher Harborne shortly before running for parliament in 2024.
Farage did not declare it to parliament, insisting that it was a private, unconditional donation.
However the parliamentary standards commissioner is now looking into the circumstances around the gift.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, Farage insisted that “no one cares” about the donation aside from the media.
He said: “I’m absolutely convinced I’ve done nothing wrong in any way at all. I also know, because I was elected as an MP I have taken zero in personal expenses. I’m very careful and very cautious about these things.
“The standards commissioner may take a different view.”
Presenter Sally Nugent said: “You had already given an interview about the possibility of becoming an MP and then you accepted the gift, is that right?”
“And after that I said I will not stand in this election!” Farage hit back, before adding that he changed his mind afterwards.
Nugent asked exactly what the money was for, as Farage has described it on as both a donation for his personal security and as a reward for Brexit campaigning.
He said: “Let’s be clear: it’s a personal gift, I can spend it on cars if I want to. It’s entirely up to me. But, there is a specific reason for this. I have been physically the most attacked and endangered politician for now well over a decade.”
He claimed the state has “point blank refused” to help him on most occasions even though he will need protection until he dies.
Nugent asked: “So how much of that money have you spent?”
“It’s literally none of your business!” Farage hit back “If I’ve given it to charity – the truth is, I haven’t... I know what it’s there for.
“How much of your salary do you spend on beer, on petrol? It’s none of your business!”
Asked again about the cost, he said: “I’m not going to answer that! Deliberately. Willfully. It’s not your business at the BBC to put me in danger so I’m not going to answer that.”
Nugent replied: “I would just like to clarify, do not make any mistake, we are not putting you in any danger at all.”
'How much of the money have you spent?'
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage told #BBCBreakfast 'I've done nothing wrong' when questioned about a £5m gift from billionaire Reform backer Christopher Harborne https://t.co/EzwCYcHHh8pic.twitter.com/aPZ9VVNzEB
A similar row unfolded on BBC Radio 4′s Today programme when presenter Nick Robinson asked Farage if he was going to give the money back in response to the backlash.
Farage said: “Boris Johnson got a gift from the same person.
“You give your salary to charity, how about that?”
“I’m not running to be prime minister, Mr Farage,” Robinson said.
“You are the main interviewer for our public broadcaster, you equally have a very responsible public position,” Farage replied.
But Robinson reminded the Reform UK MP he was the party leader who wanted to be prime minister.
Farage just said once again that it was “none of your business” what he does with the money.
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