FARAGE SAYS FINANCIAL QUESTIONS PART OF 'COORDINATED PILE-ON'

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has accused those raising questions about his financial backing of orchestrating a "coordinated pile-on" designed to damage the party. Speaking at a political conference in London, Farage stated he had been "demonised" and "dehumanised" following the revelation in April that he received a £5m gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne before the last election. The comments came shortly after two parliamentary standards inquiries opened into his financial support.

Farage addressed the audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference GB event in the docklands, where he criticised Labour leader Andy Burnham and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, describing them as leaders of the "uniparty". He called Burnham a "dud" on the day the Makerfield MP was officially elected as Labour leader, and urged an immediate general election. The conference featured speakers including US-based Jack Posobiec, described as a rightwing influencer who previously promoted claims later identified as fabricated.

Farage stated that Reform UK was the dominant force in centre-right politics, citing the election of Colin Sutton as Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk on Friday. Sutton led several high-profile murder investigations during a 30-year policing career. Farage told the audience that the British public had grown tired of political instability and required a fresh electoral mandate.