The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has re-opened its investigation into the Reform UK Leader after he won the Clacton by-election.
Nigel Farage won the Clacton by-election (Image: Getty)
Parliamentary authorities have resumed investigating Nigel Farage for an alleged failure to declare a financial interest.
According to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards’ website the investigation, which was suspended during the Clacton by-election, has been resumed.
It comes after the Reform UK MP appeared suggest he may have broken declaration rules, saying: “Maybe I haven’t filled in a piece of paper.”
Mr Farage said he was “confident” he was in the right, and had “enough of being judged by mainstream media being called a criminal.”
He added: “Do you know if I’ve made one sin? I haven’t filled in a piece of paper. I’ve broken no law. I’ve broken no tax law. I’ve taken no public money. I don’t even own a motorhome. All right.
“And, you know, maybe I haven’t filled in a piece of paper. I’m confident I’m right. We’ll see where we go.”
If Mr Farage is found to have not correctly declared his donations in breach of parliamentary rules, in regards to a £5 million gift he received from Christopher Harborne shortly before becoming an MP, a second by-election may be triggered.
Mr Farage won the Clacton by-election, which took place on 13 August 2026, after he stepped down from the seat amid growing scrutiny over his finances.
Lee Anderson MP, who serves as the party’s chief whip, earlier said Reform UK would cooperate with any investigation into Mr Farage.
He also told the media that he believed “the slate is wiped clean now in Clacton”, adding he would “of course” cooperate with the investigation.
Bridget Philipson MP, the Chair of the Labour Party, took to the airwaves after the result to say there was “no hiding place now” for Mr Farage.
She told Sky News that the Reform UK leader would need to “answer to the public” and “set out […] what’s been going on in recent weeks and months”.
Ms Philipson accused Reform UK of being “engulfed” in “sleaze and scandal” adding: “Whether it’s the £5 million dodgy gift or his connections to a convicted fraudster, these are just piling up.”
Jon Harvey, who plays the character ‘Count Binface’ (Image: Getty)
Other rival parties also commented on the by-election, with the Conservatives saying, via a spokesman: “This by-election was a farce started by Nigel Farage to try and dodge scrutiny of his fishy £5 million personal donation.
“Without any serious opponent in this pointless by-election, Farage has barely increased his overall vote total, secured fewer votes than the Conservative Giles Watling did in 2019, and had to invent absurd reasons to avoid being humiliated at his own vote count.
“All Farage can brag about this morning is beating a bloke with a bin on his head. What he should do is answer the serious outstanding questions about why he hid his £5 million from the public.”
Reform UK declined to comment when approached by this newspaper.