Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is facing fresh questions over claims he bought his £1.4 million Surrey home with money earned from appearing on the reality show "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!", rather than funds received from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne.
According to an analysis published by the Financial Times, the accounts of Farage's personal media company, "Thorn in the Side Ltd", suggest that no amount was withdrawn in the period when the property was purchased that would justify the purchase.
The case is raising doubts about Farage's financial transparency, who is currently being investigated by the parliamentary standards commissioner for failing to declare a £5 million donation from Harborne.
Farage has claimed that the funds from the billionaire, who has lived in Thailand for two decades, were given to cover his personal security costs. But the Surrey villa was purchased on May 10, 2024, just weeks after he received the funds.
Farage's spokesman had previously told the BBC that the property was paid for with the £1.5 million fee the politician received from the reality show at the end of 2023.
However, financial documents show that the cash balance of the company "Thorn in the Side Ltd" increased from 300 thousand pounds to 1.7 million pounds between May 2023 and May 2024, while no dividend was paid during this period.
The house was purchased in Farage's own name and there appears to be no mortgage on the property.
A spokesman for Reform UK insisted the villa was not purchased with Harborne's funds and argued that anti-money laundering checks on the property purchase had been carried out before payment was made by the billionaire.
However, he avoided answering whether Farage continues to stand by his statement that the house was bought with reality show money.
