Nigel Farage faces growing calls to supply proof for his assertion that a Russian state-backed cyber attack led to the exposure of a £5m donation from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne. Reform UK stated at the weekend that experts examining Farage’s phone found signs of compromise to his phone, email and bank accounts by hostile actors, almost certainly tied to Moscow, through spear-phishing methods ahead of the Guardian’s report last month on the undeclared gift. Farage described the supposed activity as deeply worrying and stressed the danger it poses to UK security. The allegation came amid rising questions over the £5m payment, which Farage had not registered despite rules requiring MPs to declare gifts and donations above set limits. A Guardian spokesperson called the claim an effort to divert attention from proper examination of his finances and said it was unreasonable to suggest the newspaper obtained the information via a Russian hack. Labour and the Conservatives urged Farage to pass any evidence to security services. Farage’s team did not answer queries about whether the matter was reported to authorities or how the phone analysis pointed to Russia. The National Cyber Security Centre has no record of such a report. Kevin Hollinrake of the Conservatives said Farage should hand over genuine evidence and be transparent rather than use distraction tactics. A Labour spokesperson said all parties must confront foreign interference and that Farage must confirm he has reported the claims and explain the gift’s use and non-declaration. A Reform source referred to the sum as a donation, contrary to Farage’s description of it as a private gift. The funds arrived via a company linked to Harborne before Farage’s election candidacy announcement. Farage initially said the money was for lifelong security but later described it as a reward for Brexit campaigning. Parliament’s standards commissioner is investigating following a Conservative referral.
