Labour has taken action regarding Nigel Farage’s claim of a Russian phone hack by reporting it to security services and the police after Reform failed to provide evidence of doing so.
Mr. Farage was given a 24-hour ultimatum to confirm that he had informed the authorities about the alleged Kremlin-backed hack on his device, which he failed to meet.
Reform leader revealed that details of a £5 million gift from a crypto billionaire came to light due to his compromised phone. Although Reform mentioned informing “relevant authorities,” they have not provided further details.
There has been doubt surrounding Mr. Farage’s claim that his phone was examined by counter-espionage experts who implicated Russia. The Mirror sought clarification from the party but received no response.
Labour’s chair, Anna Turley, wrote to Mr. Farage emphasizing the seriousness of the alleged crime and the need for proper investigation by authorities. As Reform’s response lacked specifics on the authorities informed, Labour contacted the National Cyber Security Centre and the Metropolitan Police for a thorough investigation.
Ms. Turley warned Mr. Farage to produce evidence of reporting the suspicions of hacking to the NCSC and police, or she would take action herself. Consequently, Labour has reported the allegations of hostile state activity by Russia to the Metropolitan Police and the NCSC.
Ciaran Martin, the former chief of the NCSC, dismissed Mr. Farage’s claims as unsubstantiated, stating the difficulty in implicating Russia solely based on phone examination.
Mr. Farage’s acceptance of a £5 million gift from Christopher Harborne has raised questions about potential rule breaches. The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is investigating the matter.
Regarding the gift, Mr. Farage maintains it was a personal and unconditional donation, initially intended for security but later described as a reward for his Brexit advocacy.
Ms. Turley highlighted lingering questions about the undisclosed £5 million gift and urged Mr. Farage to provide transparency on the funds and any other potential undisclosed contributions.
Reform UK has been approached for comments, with a spokesperson mentioning the report to relevant authorities without specifying to whom. The NCSC expressed readiness to assist with any reported cyber incidents to safeguard democracy and provide expert support against online threats.