Nigel Farage has rejected accusations of “blatant foreign interference” after being confronted by Labour MP Chris Bryant during a live TV appearance. Farage’s defence follows allegations surrounding his support for Donald Trump’s campaign during the US election.
Donald Trump’s campaign team had previously filed a Federal Election Commission (FEC) complaint against the UK’s Labour Party, accusing it of meddling in the US election in favour of the Harris-Walz campaign. However, Farage’s actions appear to raise similar concerns.
Farage’s Support for Trump
According to reports from The Mirror, Farage spent nearly £33,000 of donor money to support Trump’s re-election efforts, just months before submitting his complaint about Labour’s involvement in the US election.
The Reform UK leader missed the King’s Speech in Parliament to fly to Wisconsin, attending the Republican National Convention (RNC) in July. This came shortly after his election as an MP. During the event, Farage openly stated that his trip was to “support my friend Donald Trump at the RNC” and insisted that “we all have a duty to support and defend democracy.”
Funded by Donor Cash
Farage’s trip to the US was funded by Christopher Harborne, a British tech investor based in Thailand. Harborne covered the cost of Farage’s flights and accommodation, which totalled £32,836. This was declared in Farage’s register of members’ interests.
Farage wasn’t the only British political figure present at the event. Former Prime Minister Liz Truss, a vocal supporter of Trump, also attended the convention.
Questions Around Legalities
The legality of Farage’s involvement has sparked discussion. A Telegraph article, cited in Trump’s campaign complaint, quotes constitutional law expert Lawrence Otter. Otter explained that any foreign activist spending more than $1,000 to support a campaign could face significant fines from the FEC.
He added, “The cost of getting here by air, if it is less than $1,000, would be okay, but anything more than that becomes very problematic in my opinion.”
Farage’s use of donor money to fund his trip far exceeded the threshold set by US law, raising questions about whether his involvement could face scrutiny under US election regulations.
‘Different’ Rules?
When questioned by Chris Bryant during a live TV segment, Farage brushed off comparisons between his support for Trump and the Labour Party’s alleged interference, saying that his involvement was “different.” He did not expand on why his actions were distinct from those he criticised Labour for.
Farage has long been a staunch supporter of Trump, and his presence at the RNC marked another chapter in their political alliance. His justification for the trip is rooted in his belief that he was helping to “defend democracy,” but the blurred lines between political support and foreign interference have led to renewed debate.
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