Labour Alerts Police to Claims of Russian Cyber Espionage Targeting Farage

The Labour Party has formally notified the Metropolitan Police and national security agencies regarding allegations that Russian operatives hacked into Nigel Farage’s mobile phone and financial records. The move follows claims made on Sunday by sources within Reform UK, who suggested that spies from Moscow had breached the party leader’s devices to uncover details concerning a £5 million donation from a cryptocurrency billionaire.

While Reform UK has stated it referred the matter to "relevant authorities," it is understood that the Metropolitan Police were not among them. Consequently, Labour chair Anna Turley has directly contacted both the Met and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to inquire if an investigation is already underway. In her correspondence, Turley emphasized that her party is not validating the truth of the allegations but is treating them as a potential serious crime that warrants official scrutiny.

“If Reform UK have not reported this to you, please treat this letter as a formal report of what appears, on the basis of media reports, to be an allegation of a serious crime,” Turley wrote. She highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting that such an incident could impact national security, political integrity, and public trust in democracy. She urged that any proof of foreign interference be handed over to the appropriate bodies for an independent probe.

According to sources speaking to the Mail on Sunday, Farage became deeply suspicious of a compromise after news broke of the £5 million gift from businessman Christopher Harborne. With only four individuals worldwide aware of the transaction, Farage engaged counter-espionage experts to conduct forensic analysis on his mobile device. These experts reportedly determined that "spear phishing" techniques—where attackers send customized messages to trick victims into installing malware or disclosing data—were used by hostile state actors, likely linked to Moscow, to infiltrate his phone, email, and bank accounts.

Farage told the newspaper that these Russian actions were "deeply concerning" and underscored the danger they pose to British security. Both Labour and the Conservative Party have demanded that Reform UK provide any available evidence to UK security services.

The allegations emerge amidst ongoing scrutiny regarding the £5 million contribution from Harborne in April 2024, two months prior to Farage’s announcement to contest the general election that year. Under parliamentary regulations, new MPs are required to register all current financial interests and registrable benefits received within the 12 months preceding their election. While purely personal gifts or commercial loans are typically exempt, rules stipulate that the giver’s motive and the gift’s intended use must be considered, advising that any uncertainty should result in registration.

The payment was omitted from Farage’s declaration of interests and only came to light following a report by The Guardian last month. As a result, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has initiated an inquiry into potential rule breaches. Farage has previously maintained that the funds were a "purely private" matter with no political connection. He argued that Reform UK had thoroughly reviewed the regulations and found no obligation to declare an "unconditional, non-political, personal gift." Harborne, for his part, had previously stated to The Telegraph that he did not anticipate any...

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-05-29 17:02:02 UTC