Labour has raised concerns over Nigel Farage’s alleged Russian phone hack, reporting the incident to security services and the police. This action followed Reform’s failure to demonstrate that it had taken similar steps.
Earlier this week, Mr. Farage was given a 24-hour deadline to confirm whether he had informed the authorities after asserting that hackers supported by the Kremlin had breached his device. However, he did not meet this deadline.
Reform’s leader claimed that revelations about a £5 million donation from a cryptocurrency tycoon surfaced due to his compromised phone. While Reform stated that it had informed the “relevant authorities,” no further details were provided.
Questions arose when Mr. Farage mentioned that counter-espionage experts who examined his phone pointed to Russia’s involvement. Despite inquiries from the Mirror seeking clarification, no response was provided by the party.
In correspondence to Mr. Farage, Labour chair Anna Turley emphasized the seriousness of the matter, stressing the importance of promptly handing over any evidence of hostile-state hacking or foreign intervention to the relevant authorities for a thorough investigation.
Labour has now escalated the issue by reporting the allegations of Russian state interference to the Metropolitan Police and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Concerns linger regarding the actions taken by Reform in response to the situation.
Former NCSC chief Ciaran Martin dismissed Mr. Farage’s claims as unsubstantiated, asserting the challenge of attributing Russian involvement solely based on phone examination.
Mr. Farage faced criticism following reports that he received a £5 million donation from Reform mega-donor Christopher Harborne before the 2024 general election, prompting an investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner to determine if any regulations were violated.
Amidst the scrutiny, Mr. Farage maintained that the donation was an unconditional personal gift. Turley raised additional questions about the transparency of the funds’ usage and any potential undisclosed donations from Harborne to Farage or other Reform politicians.
Reform UK has been approached for comments, with a spokesperson indicating that the incident was reported to relevant authorities without specifying to whom. The NCSC expressed readiness to assist with any reported cyber incidents, emphasizing their commitment to safeguarding democracy.
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