英国政客奈杰尔·法拉奇（Nigel Farage）承认，他在2024年春季就与改革党（Reform UK）领导人理查德·蒂斯讨论过重返党领导职位的事宜，这与他之前的说法相悖[1]。法拉奇表示："在那一年的春天，我确实与理查德·蒂斯谈过，如果我回到那个职位会产生什么样的责任"[1]。
根据《星期日泰晤士报》的报道，该谈判发生在2024年3月和4月[1]。这一时间框架与法拉奇早前声称无需申报来自加密货币亿万富翁克里斯托弗·哈博恩的£500万捐赠的理由形成对照——他曾声称当时并未从政[1]。然而英国议会行为守则规定，新任议员必须登记在选举前12个月内收到的所有"可登记利益"[1]。蒂斯公司与改革党之间涉及偿还或核销超过£100万贷款的交易也是这笔谈判的一部分[1]。
工党主席布里奇特·菲利普森评论称："奈杰尔·法拉奇为其秘密£500万'礼物'无需申报的借口捅开了一个大窟窿"[1]。英国议会标准监察机构已暂停对法拉奇是否违规接受未申报£500万的调查[1]，此前法拉奇因辞去克拉克顿选区议员身份而引发补选[1]。
British politician Nigel Farage has acknowledged that he discussed returning to lead Reform UK several months before the 2024 general election, contradicting his earlier public statements.[1] Farage confirmed that "in the spring of that year I did talk to Richard Tice about what the liabilities would be if … I was to come back to that position," referring to conversations with Reform party chair Richard Tice in March and April 2024.[1] This admission undermines Farage's previous claim that he had not been engaged in active politics when he received a £5 million donation from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne, which he argued did not require declaration under parliamentary rules.[1]
The negotiations during spring 2024 also involved discussions about Reform's agreement to settle or write off more than £1 million in loans owed by a Tice-linked company.[1] Under parliamentary conduct rules, newly elected members must register all "registrable interests" received within 12 months before an election.[1] Labour party chair Bridget Phillipson stated that "Nigel Farage has blown a gaping hole in his excuse for why his secret £5m 'gift' from a crypto billionaire did not need to be declared."[1] The parliamentary standards investigation into whether Farage improperly failed to declare the donation has been temporarily suspended following his resignation from his Clacton constituency seat, which triggered a by-election.[1]