Nigel Farage is under scrutiny regarding Reform UK’s assertion that he utilized his earnings from participating in the reality show “I’m a Celebrity Get Me out of Here” to purchase a £1.4 million house.
Reform UK informed the BBC recently that Farage bought a four-bedroom detached property in Surrey in May 2024 with money earned from his appearance on the show in 2023. However, an examination of his personal media company, Thorn in the Side Ltd, by the Financial Times revealed that the TV payment remained within the company’s financial records.
The company’s funds increased from £300,000 on May 31, 2023, to £1.7 million on May 31, 2024, without any dividends being paid out during this period, contradicting Farage’s previous claim to the Financial Times that his earnings from the reality show were directed to Thorn in the Side.
Land registry documents viewed by the Mirror indicate that Farage personally acquired the Surrey residence without a mortgage, contrary to the company making the purchase. Reform UK stated, “Nigel has various income sources, as indicated in his parliamentary register.”
Nimesh Shah, a tax specialist at Blick Rothenberg, who analyzed the company’s accounts for the Financial Times, suggested that the money from Farage’s TV appearance was not used for the house purchase.
The revelation coincides with a probe by the Parliamentary standards commissioner into Farage’s failure to disclose a £5 million gift from Thai billionaire Christopher Harborne shortly before the house acquisition. According to parliamentary regulations, new MPs must report relevant gifts and donations within the 12 months leading up to their election.
Reform has emphasized that there is no link between the house acquisition and the payment from the bitcoin magnate. A Reform spokesperson mentioned that anti-money laundering checks were conducted before Farage received the gift, reiterating his multiple income sources as detailed in his parliamentary register.
In response to these developments, Labour chair Anna Turley criticized Farage, claiming his narrative keeps changing and asserting that he prioritizes self-interest over the concerns of working people.
This is not the first instance where Farage’s financial matters have been questioned. Last September, the Mirror highlighted discrepancies surrounding the purchase of a property in Clacton, Essex, where Farage serves as MP. Farage defended himself, stating that his partner Laure Ferrari funded the acquisition with her own funds, refuting any wrongdoing in the transaction.