Kemi Badenoch has accused Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of ducking a high-profile television interview to avoid scrutiny over a £5 million donation from a Thai-based billionaire. Farage was scheduled to appear on the BBC's flagship political programme Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, and promotional advertisements featuring him aired as late as Saturday. However, when the programme began, presenter Laura Kuenssberg informed viewers that Farage was absent, stating: 'His team told us, he’s changed his mind.'
Farage's last-minute cancellation drew sharp criticism from both Conservative and Labour politicians, who accused the typically media-savvy politician of 'running scared' from questions about the donation, which was revealed earlier this week and has since been referred to Parliament's standards watchdog.
Badenoch's Accusation
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'Why did Farage run scared from news interviews today? It’s because there’s something fishy about the £5 million he took. And he knows it. He’s normally very happy to shout from a TV studio - as long as he controls the terms.' Labour minister Chris Bryant later tweeted that Farage 'hates scrutiny,' while Labour MP David Pinto-Duschinsky claimed Farage 'pulled out of TV interviews today to avoid talking about a £5m donation he failed to declare.'
The Donation Controversy
The controversy centers on a £5 million payment Farage received from Christopher Harborne, a British national who helped bankroll Brexit and resides in Thailand. Farage admitted receiving the money in 2024, weeks before he declared his candidacy for the general election. Critics argue the donation should have been reported to Commons authorities, but Farage maintains it was not a political donation and thus not subject to declaration.
Farage defended the payment, saying: 'The money was given to me so that I would be safe and secure for the rest of my life. I have tried and failed in the past to get security funded by the Home Office, and I don’t think the state will ever help me. I’m very much on my own and will be for the rest of my life, and I have to face up to that grim reality. Christopher is an ardent supporter who is deeply concerned for my safety.'
Harborne's donations to Farage and Reform UK have been a source of ongoing controversy. He previously gifted a record-breaking £9 million donation to the party in August 2024 and a further £3 million this year. According to The Telegraph, the separate £5 million for Farage was not subject to tax or declared to parliamentary authorities because it was not classified as a political donation.
Political Reactions
Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley described the situation as 'the latest alarming example of Farage and his MPs believing there is one rule for them and another for everyone else.' Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake added that as a new MP, Farage would have been obliged to report all political donations and gifts received during the previous 12 months.
Farage is no stranger to public hostility. He is regularly heckled while out in public and famously had a milkshake thrown on him while campaigning in his now-constituency Clacton-on-Sea ahead of the 2024 general election. He also revealed he was the victim of a firebomb attack on his home in 2025, telling The Telegraph: 'It was an outright arson attempt.' Police investigated the attack, but a suspect has yet to be identified.
