Nigel Farage and Reform UK are facing growing political pressure following revelations about a £5 million personal gift allegedly received from crypto entrepreneur Christopher Harborne before Farage returned to Parliament in 2024.The controversy intensified after claims emerged that the information had been uncovered through a suspected cyberattack linked to Russian actors.

According to reports cited by the Mail on Sunday, a forensic investigation of Farage’s digital accounts allegedly indicated that “hostile state actors” connected to Moscow may have used spear-phishing techniques to gain access to his phone, email and banking information.Farage described the alleged Russian activity as a serious threat to British security.Reform MP Danny Kruger defended Farage, arguing that the financial information could only have become public through illegal means.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4, he stated that the private gift had been made legitimately before Farage became an MP again and should not have entered the public domain.However, Kruger admitted he did not know whether the incident had been formally reported to police or cybersecurity authorities.Labour criticised Farage for failing to provide evidence of the alleged hack and called on him to cooperate with security services.The party also renewed demands for transparency regarding the purpose and use of the £5 million payment.

The controversy has triggered an investigation by Parliament’s standards watchdog into whether Farage breached Commons rules by failing to declare the gift after his election.Farage insists the money was intended for lifelong personal security costs and was unrelated to politics.Additional questions have also been raised over his purchase of a £1.4 million property in cash shortly after receiving the funds.

Financial Times analysis reportedly challenged Farage’s explanation that the purchase was financed through earnings from his appearance on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!in 2023.