Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has been making waves at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, delivering speeches where he vowed to tax banks and challenge globalist agendas. However, the funding behind his high-profile appearance has raised eyebrows, as it has emerged that his trip was entirely hosted and paid for by the substantial family trust of an Iranian-born billionaire.
The Davos Connection: HP Trust and Sasan Ghandehari
According to official programme listings for the World Economic Forum, Farage is registered not only as a member of parliament but also as a representative of HP Trust. This entity describes itself as the "family office of Sasan Ghandehari," boasting a portfolio valued at over $10 billion, equivalent to approximately £7.4 billion. A spokesperson for the trust confirmed that Farage was invited to Davos by Ghandehari himself, who is a London-based venture capitalist.
In this capacity, Farage serves as an honorary and unpaid adviser to Ghandehari's impact investment portfolio, which focuses on philanthropic activities, particularly in the Middle East. The trust covered all costs associated with Farage's registration for the World Economic Forum and his hotel accommodation during the event. Ghandehari, now a British citizen, is the son of the late Iranian-Kazakh billionaire Hourieh Peramaa, who once owned one of London's most expensive properties, valued at £50 million.
Reform UK's Response and Further Financial Links
Reform UK has stated that Farage does not work for HP Trust and that any necessary declarations regarding the funding of his trip will be registered in due course. However, this connection is not the only link between Reform UK and the Ghandehari family. Earlier this year, Electoral Commission data revealed that a small design firm called Interior Architecture Landscape donated £200,000 to Reform UK in two separate tranches.
This company, which has a relatively low public profile, was listed in 2015 planning documents as the representative for a property linked to the Ghandehari family. A spokesperson for Interior Architecture Landscape confirmed on Friday that members of the Ghandehari family are indeed clients of the firm. They emphasised that the decision to donate £200,000 was made independently by the company's management and was not influenced by the Ghandehari family.
The spokesperson added: "We confirm that the company has, in aggregate, approximately £15 million in active contracts, including maintenance, refurbishment, and fit-out works, in relation to several properties across the United Kingdom. We further confirm that members of the Ghandehari family are clients of the company. We can also confirm that all members of the company's management, its decision-makers, and its clients are British citizens, and that the company conducts legitimate business activities within the United Kingdom. Accordingly, any political donations made by the company are fully compliant with applicable electoral law."
They continued: "Separately, the company's management made a commercial and values-based decision to donate to Reform UK, reflecting the company's view that Reform UK is seeking to improve the sectors in which the company operates." The person of significant control for Interior Architecture Landscape is listed on Companies House as John Richard Simpson.
Background on Sasan Ghandehari
Beyond his venture capital and philanthropic interests, Ghandehari is known as a London-based art collector. He is currently representing a firm in a lawsuit against Christie's auction house over the provenance of a Picasso painting. This painting was previously owned by an individual convicted of a drugs offence, adding another layer to Ghandehari's multifaceted profile.
As Farage continues his engagements in Davos, pledging to fight against globalist forces, the financial underpinnings of his presence there highlight complex networks of wealth and political influence. The revelations about HP Trust's sponsorship and the additional donations from a firm linked to the Ghandehari family underscore the intricate relationships between politics, business, and high-net-worth individuals in contemporary British politics.
