‘Stench of sleaze’: Farage struck deal over political return months before 2024 election, reports say

Nigel Farage's return to lead the Reform UK party is shrouded in controversy, with reports suggesting a secret deal was struck months before the general election, contradicting his public statements.

According to the Sunday Times, Farage was in discussions about a political comeback as early as March 2024. This timeline clashes with his assertion that he had no intention of returning to the political frontline until June 2024. The reports allege that the deal, supervised by close friend George Cottrell, involved renegotiating his leadership role with the party's then-leader Richard Tice.

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Reform UK is operating under a “stench of sleaze.”

Further complicating matters, Farage has faced intense scrutiny over a £5 million personal gift received in April 2024 from Thailand-based crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. He has also been accused of receiving financial backing from George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster. Farage has defended himself, calling the questions about his financial backing a "coordinated pile-on" aimed at hindering Reform UK's electoral prospects.

The parliamentary standards watchdog has opened a formal investigation into the £5 million gift. If Farage is found to have failed to declare gifts, he could be removed from the House of Commons, potentially triggering another byelection. He is currently contesting a byelection in Clacton.

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demonising him as part of a “coordinated pile-on”