Nigel Farage is currently under investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards for a delayed registration of his financial interests. The investigation, initiated on October 30, pertains to his earnings and overseas visits. It is specifically focusing on his alleged failure to disclose a trip to Florida where he headlined a fundraising event for Donald Trump earlier this year.
Farage, who recently announced plans to cut benefits, was the keynote speaker at a Republican party dinner in Tallahassee, where attendees could pay $500 for a regular ticket or £18,445 for a VIP package inclusive of a photo opportunity with him. He attributed the oversight of not registering the trip to an administrative mistake made by his office.
According to parliamentary regulations, MPs are required to declare any international trips exceeding £300 in cost, not entirely funded by themselves or public resources, within 28 days. In response to the investigation, a Labour source criticized Farage for his absence in Parliament and his proposed austerity measures, contrasting it with his lavish engagements abroad. Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper urged Farage to transparently disclose his ties with the Trump administration.
This inquiry comes after a previous investigation into Farage’s ownership of an undisclosed fishing boat, which was ultimately deemed a company asset rather than his personal possession. Recent reports from The Mirror revealed that Farage is the highest-earning MP in the House of Commons, accruing significant income from multiple external roles. Since the Brexit referendum, he has expanded his property portfolio and is now earning around £100,000 monthly, primarily through various business ventures, including a lucrative commentator position at Rupert Murdoch’s media company.
Despite numerous attempts for comment, Reform UK, Farage’s party, remained unresponsive to queries.