Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has issued a formal apology after an investigation found he breached parliamentary rules on outside earnings on seventeen separate occasions. The findings reveal significant failures in declaring substantial income from secondary employment beyond his duties as MP for Clacton.
Multiple Failures to Declare Substantial Income
The Standards Commissioner, Daniel Greenberg, confirmed that Mr Farage broke the MPs' code of conduct by failing to properly declare more than £384,000 in earnings from various external roles. These included his presenting work on GB News and promotional activities for a gold bullion company, among other lucrative engagements.
Formal Investigation Launched into Wider Financial Affairs
The situation has escalated with Mr Greenberg launching a formal investigation into Mr Farage's broader financial arrangements following a complaint from a member of the public. This probe will examine the full scope of his outside earnings and declaration practices.
Parliamentary rules require all MPs to declare any external payments in the Register of Members' Financial Interests within 28 days of receipt. The investigation found Mr Farage failed to meet this deadline on seventeen distinct occasions, representing a significant pattern of non-compliance.
Among Highest Earners from Second Jobs
Mr Farage stands out as one of the parliamentarians with the most substantial earnings from secondary employment. On top of his £94,000 parliamentary salary, he has reportedly earned more than £1 million in 2025 alone from various external roles.
These include his television presenting commitments and personalised video message services through the Cameo platform, highlighting the diverse nature of his income streams beyond his parliamentary responsibilities.
Apology and Explanation Offered
In a letter to the parliamentary watchdog, Mr Farage expressed sincere regret for the breaches, describing them as 'inadvertent' errors resulting from 'staffing and other administrative issues.' He emphasised the complexity of his financial interests compared to most MPs.
'Unlike most Members, I have a very complicated and complex set of interests, including my work as a TV presenter and as a successful private businessman, most of which were built long before I was elected as a Member of Parliament,' Mr Farage explained in his correspondence.
Claims of Unusual Complexity
The Reform leader argued that his situation differs markedly from that of typical parliamentarians, stating: 'Compared to most MPs, I have an unusually high number of interests which need to be declared, and I have always and will always continue to declare these.'
He sought to reassure the standards commissioner that there was 'no malicious intent to deceive or mislead you or the public in the lateness of these declarations; it was an honest and genuine error.'
Ongoing Scrutiny of Parliamentary Standards
This case highlights ongoing concerns about transparency and accountability regarding MPs' outside earnings. The formal investigation into Mr Farage's wider financial affairs represents a significant development in parliamentary standards enforcement.
The situation raises questions about how parliamentarians with substantial business interests outside their parliamentary roles manage their declaration obligations, particularly when those interests predate their election to the House of Commons.
As the investigation continues, attention will focus on whether administrative explanations for declaration failures are sufficient justification for multiple breaches of parliamentary rules designed to ensure transparency about potential conflicts of interest.
