Nigel Farage breaks parliamentary rules upon return
Nigel Farage has violated parliamentary rules on his first day back as an MP after posting a video from the roof of the Houses of Parliament, reports BritPanorama.
The leader of Reform UK, who recently triggered a by-election by resigning earlier this summer, was sworn back into Parliament following his victory in Clacton on Tuesday. Within hours of his return, Farage shared a video on social media that was filmed on the roof of the building.
Filming on the estate requires prior permission from parliamentary authorities, particularly given the security implications associated with rooftop access. It is understood that Mr. Farage did not seek the necessary approval before recording his video.
A House of Commons spokesperson stated, “Unauthorised photography or filming is not permitted on the Parliamentary Estate. When such activities are observed, the individual will be asked to stop and reminded of the rules. In cases of breaches, the Serjeant at Arms will communicate with the involved Member to clarify the rules.”
In the video, Farage declared, “Well it’s first day back in Parliament after the by-election. Big Ben bonging and have a look at where we are. I mean this whole building is extraordinary and yes it needs a fortune spent on it to keep it up to speed but it is a magnificent place.”
He also expressed satisfaction regarding his return with “an increased majority and more votes than we got in the general election.” Notably, his main opponent in the by-election, Count Binface, received over 20% of the total votes, with 9,455 compared to Farage’s 22,239—his highest electoral tally to date.
Before stepping down from Westminster, Farage was under investigation by parliamentary standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg regarding a £5 million gift from cryptocurrency tycoon Christopher Harborne, received prior to his return to the Commons.
Commons regulations require new MPs to declare any gifts exceeding £300 from the preceding year, barring situations where the gift “could not be reasonably thought by others” to pertain to their political activities.
Despite Harborne’s total donations exceeding £25 million to Reform UK, Farage has maintained that the £5 million “gift” was not subject to registration because it was for personal use. His rationale has varied, suggesting that it was to cover personal safety expenses and even described it as a “reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years.”
Parliamentary rules stipulate that interests must be declared if relevant in the year before becoming an MP. The investigation was halted when Farage resigned but has since been reopened following his re-election.
Farage’s decision to call for a by-election prior to the standards committee’s ruling was intended to mitigate potential penalties and solidify his support amid escalating criticism.
A further by-election could still be instigated if the inquiry results in a suspension exceeding 10 days. Such a suspension would activate a recall petition in his Clacton constituency, requiring signatures from at least 10% of the electorate to trigger a second election.
Reform UK has been approached for comment.
