LONDON (AP) — Nigel Farage usually likes the limelight, but he has been unusually quiet of late. The leader of anti-immigration party Reform UK has suspended his near-weekly press conferences and frequent media appearances in recent weeks as he faces questions over undeclared financial gifts. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
Farage, a prominent British ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, denies wrongdoing. But the scrutiny of his finances has spurred speculation about the future of a politician some considered favorite to be prime minister after the next national election.
Reform UK has only eight of the 650 lawmakers in the House of Commons but consistently leads opinion polls over the governing Labour Party and the main opposition Conservatives.
Farage is facing a probe by Parliament's standards watchdog over a 5 million pound ($6.7 million) gift from a Thailand-based cryptocurrency billionaire. On Sunday an opposition politician asked the watchdog to open another investigation over donations from a convicted fraudster.
Liberal Democrat lawmaker Josh Babarinde said "there is a serious question as to whether Mr. Farage met his obligations under the Code of Conduct" for members of Parliament.
The Sunday Times has reported claims about Farage's financial relationship with George Cottrell, an aristocratic, crypto-gambling entrepreneur and on-off aide to the Reform UK leader.
Cottrell was arrested at Chicago's O'Hare airport in 2016, while traveling with Farage, over allegations he offered to launder money for undercover agents posing as drug traffickers. Indicted on 21 counts relating to money laundering, fraud, blackmail and extortion, he agreed to plead guilty to a single charge of wire fraud, admitting attempting to defraud criminals on the dark web by masquerading as a money launderer. He served eight months in prison.
Cottrell, 32, remains close to Farage, and The Sunday Times said he gave the politician funding for staffing and security before Britain's 2024 general election, as well as the use of a London townhouse near Buckingham Palace.
Reform Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick said Cottrell is an "old friend" of Farage with no formal role in the political party. He confirmed Cottrell had paid for Farage's security and staff, but said it was "before he became a Member of Parliament."