Elections watchdog considers looking into £5m donation to Farage

The elections watchdog for England and Wales has said it is considering whether to look into the £5m given to Nigel Farage before the last general election. Reform UK mega donor Christopher Harborne gave the money to Farage in early 2024. In the correspondence, seen by the BBC, the Conservatives suggested that Farage should "have declared the donation to the Electoral Commission at the time as a regulated donee". Reform UK said the money was a gift, and that it was given at a time when the now-Reform leader had not yet committed to standing as an MP. In its response to the Conservative Party, the Commission confirmed "we are aware of this matter and are considering it under our regulatory remit. "We will consider all the available relevant information and recommend what, if any, next steps the Commission will take." The watchdog promised to reply to the Conservatives no later than 12 May, which comes after next week's elections in Scotland and Wales, and local elections in many parts of England. A Reform UK spokesperson said that "the money was given as an unconditional gift" to Farage, who at the time was the honorary president of Reform UK and had not committed publicly to stand