Nigel Farage has been urged to "come clean" after a report claimed he struck a secret deal to return as Reform UK leader months before he publicly announced it, raising fresh doubts over his account of an undeclared £5 million gift. The gift, from crypto-billionaire donor Christopher Harborne, was received in April 2024, and Farage's defence for not registering it has rested on his claim that he "wasn't in politics" between 2021 and June 2024 — a claim now undermined by reports of earlier negotiations with then Reform chief Richard Tice.

The Sunday Times reported that Farage negotiated his return with Tice in March and April 2024, under a deal in which Reform would repay or write off more than £1 million in loans owed to Tice's company once Farage became leader. A Reform source said Farage had initially decided against returning after learning of the party's liabilities, before later reversing that decision. A parliamentary probe into the £5 million gift, paused since Farage stood down as Clacton MP to contest a by-election, would resume if he is re-elected; he also faces scrutiny over support from convicted fraudster George Cottrell. Labour's Bridget Phillipson and the Liberal Democrats' Daisy Cooper both accused Farage of dodging scrutiny and called for transparency.