‘Stench of sleaze’: Farage struck deal over political return months before 2024 election, reports say
Labour chair accuses Reform of making ‘grubby pacts’ after contradictory reports emerge on timeline of events Reform UK is operating under a “stench of sleaze”, Labour has said, after reports that Nigel Farage struck a secret deal to return as leader of Reform months before the general election. Farage was in discussions about a return to the political frontline from as early as March 2024, despite later claiming he had no intention of returning to politics until June 2024, the Sunday Times reported. In April this year, the Guardian revealed Farage did not disclose a £5m personal gift from the Thailand-based crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne that he received in April 2024. He told senior figures in Reform UK he would need “a million a year” to cover lost earnings if he stood for parliament in the 2024 general election, sources told the Guardian . Under parliamentary rules, newly elected MPs must register any relevant financial interests and gifts received in the 12 months before their election.
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According to the Sunday Times , Farage renegotiated a deal – supervised by Cottrell – to return as the leader of Reform with the party’s then leader, Richard Tice, in March and April 2024.
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Labour chair accuses Reform of making ‘grubby pacts’ after contradictory reports emerge on timeline of events Reform UK is operating under a “stench of sleaze”, Labour has said, after reports that Nigel Farage struck a secret deal to return as leader of Reform months before the general election. Farage was in discussions about a return to the political frontline from as early as March 2024, despite later claiming he had no intention of returning to politics until June 2024, the Sunday Times reported. In April this year, the Guardian revealed Farage did not disclose a £5m personal gift from the Thailand-based crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne that he received in April 2024. He told senior figures in Reform UK he would need “a million a year” to cover lost earnings if he stood for parliament in the 2024 general election, sources told the Guardian . Under parliamentary rules, newly elected MPs must register any relevant financial interests and gifts received in the 12 months before their election.