Nigel Farage curtails media schedule as Parliament probes undisclosed £5m crypto-linked gift

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has sharply reduced his public media appearances in recent weeks as Parliament investigates whether he failed to declare a £5 million (about $6.4 million) gift from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne ahead of the 2024 general election. Figures show Farage held 20 press conferences in the first four months of the year, but just one in May, after the previously undisclosed donation was reported on April 29. Critics note Reform UK later promoted a number of crypto-friendly proposals, including cutting the capital gains tax rate on crypto assets to 10% from 24% and creating a national Bitcoin reserve held at the Bank of England. After the UK Parliament's Commissioner for Standards said an inquiry would be opened, Reform UK removed a draft digital finance policy document from its website at the end of May. (FT)