英国政治人物奈杰尔·法拉奇（Nigel Farage）被曝在2024年大选前数月就与Reform UK领导人理查德·蒂斯达成了重返政治的秘密协议，这与他公开声称在6月才做出决定的说法相悖[1]。据报道，法拉奇早在2024年3月便开始讨论重返政治前线，而Reform UK与蒂斯公司之间的协议还涉及偿还或注销超过100万英镑的未清债务[1]。此外，法拉奇表示若参选2024年大选需要"一年100万英镑"来弥补丧失的收入[1]。
法拉奇同时陷入多项财务丑闻调查[1]。他因未披露来自泰国加密货币富豪克里斯托弗·哈博恩在2024年4月转账的500万英镑个人礼物而面临调查，此举违反了议会规则，即新选议员必须登记12个月内收到的相关财务利益和礼物[1]。议会标准监察机构已于5月对这笔礼物启动正式调查[1]。同时，法拉奇还涉嫌接受来自被定罪欺诈犯乔治·科特雷尔的财务支持，后者在2024年向其母亲菲奥娜转账超过200万美元（148万英镑），每笔转账后母亲随即向该党捐款[1]。苏格兰场侦探已以刑事谨慎态度对科特雷尔及其母亲进行了询问[1]。若被查实未披露礼物，法拉奇可能被逐出众议院，并面临第二次补选[1]。
Nigel Farage struck a confidential agreement to resume his role leading Reform UK several months before the 2024 general election, according to reports, contradicting his public claim that he made the decision in June [1]. The deal, negotiated with Reform UK leader Richard Tice as early as March 2024, included provisions for the party to repay or write off more than one million pounds in outstanding debts owed by Tice's company [1].
The revelation compounds mounting scrutiny over Farage's financial disclosures. He received a five million pound personal gift from Thailand-based cryptocurrency entrepreneur Christopher Harborne in April 2024, which he failed to register in accordance with parliamentary rules [1]. Under Westminster regulations, newly elected MPs must declare relevant financial interests and gifts received within the previous twelve months [1]. The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner launched a formal investigation into the undisclosed gift in May [1]. Should Farage be sanctioned for non-disclosure, he could face expulsion from the Commons and a second by-election [1].
Additional scrutiny has centered on potential financial backing from convicted fraudster George Cottrell. Cottrell and his mother, Fiona Cottrell, have been interviewed by Scotland Yard detectives under caution [1]. In 2024, George Cottrell transferred more than two million dollars—approximately 1.48 million pounds—to his mother, with donations to Reform UK promptly following each transfer [1].