Nigel Farage is under scrutiny by Parliament for a delayed disclosure of his financial interests. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards initiated an inquiry on October 30 regarding Farage’s earnings and overseas visits.
The investigation focuses on his alleged omission of a trip to Florida to speak at a fundraising event for Donald Trump earlier this year. Farage headlined a Republican party dinner in Tallahassee, where attendees could pay up to £18,445 for a VIP ticket, inclusive of a photo opportunity with the Clacton MP.
Farage attributed the failure to report the trip in the parliamentary transparency logs to an oversight by his office. He stated that although he had emailed the trip details to his office, they were not registered due to an administrative error.
According to parliamentary regulations, MPs are required to declare any foreign visits costing more than £300, not fully funded by themselves or public funds, within 28 days. In response, a Labour source criticized Farage for neglecting his parliamentary duties and accused him of promoting austerity measures while benefiting financially from international engagements.
Lib Dem Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper called for transparency regarding Farage’s ties to Trump’s administration, emphasizing the need for accountability to the British public. Previously, Farage faced an investigation over ownership of an undisclosed fishing boat, which was later determined to be a company asset.
Recent reports revealed Farage as the highest-earning MP, with significant income from multiple external roles and investments. Since the Brexit referendum, he has amassed a £3m property portfolio and continues to earn substantial amounts from various endeavors, including a new role as a commentator for Rupert Murdoch’s media outlet in Australia.
Despite requests for comment, Reform UK, Farage’s party, did not provide a response to the inquiries.
