Farage Defends £5M Gift from Tether Billionaire Amid Parliamentary Rules Breach Allegations

Nigel Farage has come under fire for receiving a £5 million gift from British-Thai billionaire Christopher Harborne, who owns around 12% of Tether Limited and its stablecoin USDT.

The payment was made in June 2024 but only became public knowledge nearly two years later when a Guardian investigation revealed the transfer. Farage initially failed to declare the gift, which is above the threshold required by parliamentary rules for MPs to register financial interests.

Farage has defended the gift as a personal one intended for his long-term security, citing threats he's faced in his career. However, this has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and whether Farage breached Commons rules by not registering the gift after his election.

The Reform UK leader has been vocal about his support for crypto-friendly policies, including the proposed Crypto Assets and Digital Finance Bill. Harborne's donations to the party have also made him one of the most significant political donors in recent British history, with over £22 million contributed so far.