Interview · 2 Sep 2026
BBC News interview: the £5m gift and Reform's money
Video: YouTube: BBC Politics (official channel). Retrieved 2 Oct 2026.
Mostly straight talkProvisional
263 sentences · 16 checked claims · 49 questions
Answers questions
79%
49 questions rated. Answered = 1, Partly answered and Declined openly = ½, Dodged = 0.
Answered 31Partly answered 13Declined openly 2Dodged 3
BBC interviewer
Nah, welcome back to Parliament. You've been sworn in again as a MP. Um, what on earth was the point of that bi-election over the summer?
AnsweredAsked what the point of the summer by-election was. The reply gives a reason: with the standards investigation likely to take up to a year, he wanted voters to judge.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
The thing is though, we knew you were popular in Clton before because you won in 2024. The bi-election proves that you still are. But we're back where we started, aren't we? I mean, that investigation trundles on. All of the questions continue.
And actually, the people in Clton were asked to come to a judgment before they know the outcome of that investigation.
Partly answeredTold that the investigation continues and voters judged before its outcome. The reply suggests the committee's outcome is already known, without addressing whether voters could judge fairly before it.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
You made a significant charge though against the integrity of the privileges committee of those who might look at uh look at this case in the coming in the coming months. To be clear, you're suggesting you don't think they're going to give you a fair hearing.
Partly answeredAsked to confirm he does not expect a fair hearing. The reply says he would not wait for a committee with its political make-up, without stating plainly whether he expects a fair hearing.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
But before we get to that, there's the standards commissioner himself. Do you have faith in him to be able to impartially look at this?
AnsweredAsked whether he has faith in the Standards Commissioner. The reply says he has no questions about him.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
Have you been interviewed by the Sunday commissioner yet?
AnsweredAsked whether the Commissioner has interviewed him yet. The reply says no.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
Presumably you'd want to be. You'd be saying, "Call me in. I'm happy to talk."
AnsweredAsked whether he wants to be interviewed. The reply says he has said so and it will happen.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
Have you got a date yet?
Partly answeredAsked whether a date has been set. The reply says it will happen but gives no date.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
It's coming soon then, is it?
Partly answeredAsked whether the interview is coming soon. The reply says the Commissioner wrote within hours of the result and things may now move faster, without a date.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
Sounds like you're going to be interviewed imminently.
AnsweredAsked whether the interview is imminent. The reply says it will not be long.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
Let's take a step back from the specifics. Let's talk about money. Does it matter to you where reform gets its money from?
Partly answeredAsked whether it matters where Reform gets its money. The reply says donors will not be given peerages and share the party's analysis, but does not say whether the source of money matters.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
And I want to get on to your pitch and the arguments that you'll be making at your conference in the in the coming days shortly. Let's ask specifically about the5 million pound gift from Christopher Harbornne, the uh billionaire that is at the heart of this investigation by the by the standards commissioner. Have you ever in the last couple of months looked in the mirror and thought, you know what, maybe I could have saved myself one heck of a lot of hassle if I just declared that?
AnsweredAsked whether declaring the £5m gift would have saved trouble. The reply says he could have but did not need to, on legal advice, because the gift was personal.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
I guess the question is that rules say if in doubt declare it and when you got that money granted you weren't an MP. Uh but you were putting out videos about channel migrants. You were the honorary president of Reform UK. You've been the majority shareholder in Reform UK for years. We now know that you were talking to the party's then leader Richard Ty about the party's finances.
I mean that's pretty political.
AnsweredTold that his party roles made the gift political. The reply disagrees and points to his media career.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
but if in doubt, declare it. It's
AnsweredTold the rule is to declare when in doubt. The reply says he was not in doubt, on legal advice.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
I mean, was it good legal advice given what's happened since? Because there seems to be a doubt about whether you should. That's why there's an investigation.
Partly answeredAsked whether the legal advice was good given the investigation. The reply says the investigation is not a legal one, without addressing whether the advice was sound.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
And this is the crux of this, isn't it? because maybe you were seeking advice from the wrong people because you were seeking the advice of lawyers, but this is the political sphere. You know this, you've been in it for decades and uh and you and you know that people will ask sharp questions, not least because plenty of MPs say, "Look, if we can declare stuff because the rules suggest if in doubt declare it, then then so should Nigel Farah."
DodgedTold that other MPs expect anything in doubt to be declared. The reply turns to the threats he has faced, which the interviewer notes is not the question.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
And that's profound and it is significant, but it's not the question, is it? The question is whether or not you should have declared the money. If you declared the money and said, "Yeah, look, I'm going to spend it on my security because of the threats you face." Yeah, this conversation would be very different.
AnsweredAsked again whether he should have declared the money. The reply says he believes he broke no rules and the committee will decide.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
Do you anticipate there could be a whole other bi-election again because or or does the one that's happened mean you think that's less less likely? You know, if there's a scenario where you're found against [snorts] and there's a suggestion of a recall petition, the people in Cton are going to say, "Oh, we've done all that." Or put you through it all again.
Declined openlyAsked whether a recall petition or another by-election could follow. The reply says he will not speculate.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
You think it might happen again?
AnsweredAsked whether another by-election might happen. The reply says he would not have thought so.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
on the whole question of the money questions. There was some focus groups done in your constituency over the summer and look clearly you won and you won handsomely but more in common were suggesting that some floating potential reform supporters and I guess this question stretches beyond your constituency were expressing doubts because of all of this swirl of money whereas others whereas others just to be clear and to be fair of your more solid supporters believe this idea that they felt that this was people out to get you. Does all of this restrict your capacity to broaden your support?
DodgedAsked whether the questions about money limit his ability to widen support. The reply turns to the May election results and the scrutiny of the party, not to whether support is limited.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
Is it astonishing though? Because I mean
AnsweredAsked whether the scrutiny is really astonishing. The reply says publishing illegally obtained information is.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
about scrutiny is inevitable, isn't it? Because you're a candidate for prime minister and Richard Ty is a candidate for deputy prime minister.
Partly answeredTold scrutiny is inevitable for candidates for Prime Minister and deputy. The reply answers with a question about whether bank transactions should be public.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
What I'm saying is the scrutiny is in
Partly answeredInterviewer begins to say the scrutiny is legitimate. The reply says there has been a deliberate attempt to portray everyone in Reform as a crook.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
That's an exaggeration, isn't it? Is asking it's asking searching questions and seeking answers.
AnsweredAsked whether that is an exaggeration. The reply says he does not think so and gives reasons.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
The the the Fiona Cotle, the mum of your friend George Cotl, the convicted fraudster. Two donations of 250,000 [clears throat] from Richard Ty's business. Mr. saying the money was given to his firm by Fiona Kotchell. Do you know if the money that Fiona Kotchel donated was hers or came from her son George?
AnsweredAsked whether the donated money was Fiona Cottrell's or her son's. The reply says he believes it was hers and he was not leader at the time.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
you know, I suppose there's a potential difference there.
DodgedTold there may be a difference between believing and knowing. The reply asks how anyone can know anything.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
But you need to be more curious about
Partly answeredTold he should be more curious about the money's source. The reply says he was told it was hers, then turns to complaints from other parties.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
Doesn't that sound a bit conspiracy theory like that this the whole world's out to get us stuff.
AnsweredAsked whether this sounds like a conspiracy theory. The reply says newspapers report investigations before complaints are known, and describes the establishment attacking newcomers.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
If if that thesis, if you like, if there's something in that thesis, isn't it wouldn't it be logical for you and for for reform to ensure that that is minimized by making sure that there's the checks and balances, making sure as you scale up, and granted you're trying to do that very quickly and that's difficult. That there's the infrastructure, the chief executives, the chief of staffs, the the scrutiners who can ask tough questions in terms. Oh, we're building and building and building. This this kind of stuff implies that that's not really there.
Partly answeredAsked whether Reform should build checks and balances as it grows. The reply says the attacks will continue, without addressing the party's own checks.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
Who's they?
AnsweredAsked who 'they' are. The reply says people who hold power and money and do not want newcomers to succeed.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
So, I'm doing this, but I want to I'm curious about
Partly answeredInterviewer asks for specifics. The reply says it is the whole ecosystem.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
So the institutions who who who who in this apparent web of collusion
AnsweredAsked which institutions are involved. The reply names the House of Commons and the House of Lords.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
You and Donald Trump have sat down and talked about the specifics of
AnsweredAsked whether he discussed this with Trump. The reply says he has not, then adds the party's compliance is in a strong place.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
Last question on the specifics around money. Why was Reform's bank account frozen a couple of weeks out from the general election?
Partly answeredAsked why Reform's bank account was frozen before the election. The reply says this is common and has happened about five times, without giving the reason this time.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
The banking world have you found out? Do you know?
Partly answeredAsked whether he found out why. The reply asks which case is meant.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
No, no. I'm talking specifically about the I mean, you've spoken we've spoken at length about about about your particular case reforms bank account in the weeks before the election because that's a big deal
AnsweredAsked again about the party's account. The reply says complaints trigger account suspensions pending investigation.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
I'm fascinated by this idea of a component society and it'll resonate with some people, but there's a line, isn't there? And I'm wondering where you think it should be drawn. This is a wider question than the critic the questions [clears throat] you face as a party and more about your vision if you like for the UK as prime minister to win a general election. Where did we cross a line that goes too far in terms of the checks and balances that allow people to ask searching questions of institutions?
AnsweredAsked where checks on institutions go too far. The reply gives money-laundering rules and debanking as the example.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
Let's talk about the wider political landscape as we head into conference season. Um have things got a bit tougher with a new prime minister for reform?
AnsweredAsked whether the new Prime Minister has made things tougher. The reply says it is too early to tell and any bounce is small.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
You were you were top of opinion polls for ages and ages and ages and they've topped a few. Granted, it's early days for the new prime minister, but he's a different ch different proposition.
AnsweredTold the new Prime Minister is a different proposition. The reply compares the two leaders and restates his prediction of a 2027 election.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
You've had an extraordinary couple of years in many senses dominating politics contributing to the downfall of the the last prime minister. But has momentum stalled a bit for you? Recent bi-election results? Clearly you've just won one but second in Makerfield, third in our broth and broughty ferry, third in Abedine South, second in Gson and Denton. The whole front runner thing isn't happening with quite the frequency.
AnsweredAsked whether momentum has stalled. The reply explains recent by-elections and accepts the party is down a bit.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
I suppose a curiosity with that pitch around the desire for a speed of delivery, the kind of speed of delivery lots of uh our audience will associate with day-to-day life when you can book stuff online that arrives the day after etc etc. Is does it not run straight into the very thing you were grumbling about about five minutes ago about this idea of the complainant society or indeed that the sense that that there's there's institutions out there that are out that are out to get you. In other words, that could styy the very thing you want to do.
AnsweredAsked whether fast delivery would run into the institutions he complains about. The reply says a specific manifesto mandate would have to be accepted.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
Is reform a happy ship at the moment? Over the summer, you publicly uh took Zia Ysef to task for that remark, calling a former defense secretary a traitor. Um there's clearly this anxiety that you've expressed around uh you know the the as you see it the mud that's being thrown at you by your critics. So is it a happy ship? It doesn't always come across as that.
AnsweredAsked whether Reform is a happy ship. The reply says it is.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
is there an inner circle sometimes it feels like there's you and there's Richard and there's Robert Generick and there's Zia but all those operating individual
AnsweredAsked whether there is an inner circle. The reply says he lets senior figures run their areas and the party is united.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
And what about the the image that the electorate see of you and indeed the wider party? There was a bit of a critique over the summer, some of it articulated privately, some of it publicly about about the tone being struck and whether the better reform in Nigel Farage is a a sunnier and more optimistic one or an agrieved one.
AnsweredAsked whether his tone has been aggrieved. The reply accepts it has, and explains why.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
And people will sympathize on a human level with that and why that might have articulated itself in an agrieved tone. But in a political sense, are you hoping that are you wanting to sort of change the record tonally and and do you recognize the political risk of coming across as a grieve that might might put off some people curious but not yet convinced?
AnsweredAsked whether he will change his tone. The reply says he will go back to his usual approach, which the interviewer takes as a yes.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
I want to ask you briefly about Anne Whitikham, your former colleague figure, hugely liked and respected in in [clears throat] many political circles and in particular something you were talking about over the summer which was a firebombing of one of your houses and a concern over and above the seriousness of that of a connection between that and Anikham's murder. Is there anything more you can say about that?
Declined openlyAsked whether there is more to say about a possible link between the firebombing of his house and the murder of a former colleague. The reply says it is under counter-terrorism investigation and declines to comment.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
You have previously sounded reassured by some of the conversations you've had most recently with with the police and the security since Anne's murder.
AnsweredAsked whether he is reassured by recent contact with the police. The reply says the authorities have been more open.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
Is your security being scaled up in terms of what the state's offering?
AnsweredAsked whether his state security is being increased. The reply says no.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
Final question, big broad political question. The autumn, the coming months, the conference, what message do you want to land with our audience? say between now and Christmas in the coming months the new prime minister we're into the conference season the battle of ideas you anticipate a general election sooner rather than later what's the big pitch and whenever that election comes it's your name on the ticket you're definitely going to be the leader going into that election even if it's in 2029 yeah
AnsweredAsked for his main message and whether he will lead into the election. The reply says yes and sets out the message.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person
BBC interviewer
Do you think you're going to win the next election?
AnsweredAsked whether he will win the next election. The reply says yes, every chance.Our model rated this
Not yet reviewed by a person