Nigel Farage Issues Apology for Multiple Parliamentary Code Breaches
The leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, has publicly apologised for seventeen breaches of the MPs' code of conduct following his failure to declare £380,000 of income on time. The MP for Clacton described himself as an "oddball" who does not use computers, attributing the administrative errors to what he called "severe growing pains" within his party.
Administrative Failures and Growing Pains
Farage explained that he had relied on a senior staff member to submit his financial interests to the parliamentary register, but this system had failed him. Despite this delegation of responsibility, the Reform UK leader emphasised that he took full responsibility for the oversight. The undeclared income included payments from his broadcasting work with GB News and revenue from social media output on platforms including Google and X.
"Why have payments that have gone into my account been delayed? Well, gross, gross administrative error," Farage told the standards commissioner. "You may say, why don't I enter those things myself? Well, I don't do computers. I can come and fill in a register for you, but I don't do computers. So I rely on other people to do those things for me."
Previous Breaches and Current Investigation
This is not the first time Farage has faced scrutiny over parliamentary rules. The highest-earning MP previously admitted breaching regulations by failing to register a trip to Florida where he appeared at a fundraising event for former US president Donald Trump. The Reform UK leader was the main speaker at the $500-a-head Republican party dinner in Tallahassee in March 2023.
In his defence, Farage stated there had been no intention to deceive anyone and that he had nothing to gain from late declarations. He further noted that he had never faced issues with tax authorities, does not claim parliamentary expenses, and argued that his substantial income is earned "because I am Nigel Farage" rather than through his parliamentary role.
Standards Commissioner's Findings
Daniel Greenberg, the parliamentary standards commissioner, acknowledged in his decision that while there had been a high number of breaches involving significant sums, he accepted these were inadvertent rather than deliberate. The commissioner's report highlighted the substantial value of the undeclared interests while recognising the administrative explanations provided.
In his apology, Farage stated: "I'm sorry. I apologise. I fully accept that I'm in the wrong in every way, because if your staff mess up, ultimately you're responsible and that's what happens with rank in life, whether you're running a business or a member of parliament."
Political Reactions and Wider Context
A Labour party spokesperson responded critically to the revelations, stating: "Nigel Farage is so distracted with tempting failed Tory politicians into his party that he can't even get the basics right. He isn't on the side of working people – he's just lining his pockets when he should be standing up for his constituents."
The spokesperson continued: "He boasts about making money 'because I'm Nigel Farage', raking in millions through various outside jobs. But he neglects to do the important work that hard-pressed taxpayers fork out for him to do. Labour will tighten the rules on MPs' second jobs to make sure the public get the attention they expect and deserve from their elected representatives."
This incident occurs against a backdrop where other senior politicians have faced similar scrutiny. Prime Minister Keir Starmer was previously found by the standards commissioner to have declared his financial interests late, resulting in eight minor and inadvertent breaches of the parliamentary code.
The Reform UK party has experienced significant expansion since the 2024 election, gaining multiple parliamentary seats. Farage attributed the administrative failures to this rapid growth, suggesting the party had been overwhelmed by administration and emails as it transitioned from a protest movement to a parliamentary force.
