Nigel Farage is under scrutiny by Parliament for a delayed disclosure of interests. The inquiry, initiated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards on October 30, pertains to his earnings and overseas trips. It is suspected to be linked to his failure to register a visit to Florida for a fundraising event with Donald Trump earlier this year.
Farage, who recently revealed plans to reduce benefits, was the keynote speaker at a Republican party dinner in Tallahassee, where guests could pay up to £18,445 for a VIP ticket that included a photo opportunity with him. He attributed the oversight of not declaring the trip in parliamentary records to an administrative mistake by his office.
According to parliamentary guidelines, MPs are required to register trips outside the UK exceeding £300, not fully funded by themselves or public resources, within 28 days. In response to the investigation, a Labour source criticized Farage for his absence in parliament and his recent austerity proposals, labeling him as disconnected from reality.
Lib Dem Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper urged Farage to address the error in registering the income from Trump’s dinner to allow public scrutiny of his ties to the former president’s administration. Previously, Farage was investigated for ownership of an unreported fishing boat, which was later determined to be owned by a company associated with him.
Recent reports indicate Farage as the highest-earning MP, earning one million pounds from various roles since becoming an MP. Known for dedicating extensive time to external interests, he estimates spending 25 hours weekly on his 11 side jobs. Post-Brexit, Farage has amassed a £3 million property portfolio and earns around £100,000 monthly. His latest role includes working as a commentator for Rupert Murdoch’s Australian media company.
Reform UK did not provide a response to requests for comments on the matter.