Nigel Farage to make statement on 'future in public life'

It comes as the Reform UK leader has faced increased scrutiny over financial support given to him by a convicted fraudster.

Reports have said that the Essex MP's long-term ally, George Cottrell, had provided funding for security and staffing in the year before he was elected.

Mr Cottrell was jailed for eight months in the US in 2017 after pleading guilty to a charge of wire fraud

The elections watchdog has been urged to investigate Mr Farage over the claims.

Nigel Farage to make statement on 'future in public life'

I will make a statement on my future in public life at 2pm.

— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) July 7, 2026

His statement will be at 2pm this afternoon (Tuesday, July 7).

It comes just a day after Mr Farage was approached by a Sky News journalist over the claims at an airport as he arrived back in the UK.

Mr Farage reacted angrily when asked whether it had been a mistake not to declare gifts from the ally.

Responding to the journalist, he said: “You tell your bosses, you harass my family any more… serious consequences.

"That’s what your organisation has done this morning.

"Go away."

Sky said it had not contacted anyone from Mr Farage’s family about the story.

However, the Reform leader later posted on X saying: "This is an outright lie from @SkyNews.

"They hounded my daughter at home, just days after The Times published where my family live.

"Despicable behaviour from the media."

What is Nigel Farage being scrutinised for?

Nigel Farage has faced intense scrutiny over financial support given to him by a convicted fraudster and a £5 million gift from a Reform UK donor.

The Reform UK leader is under pressure following reports that long-term ally George Cottrell had provided funding for security and staffing in the year before he was elected.

Labour has asked the Electoral Commission to investigate whether the support should have been declared because Mr Farage was a prominent figure in Reform even before he returned to frontline politics.

The party also questioned whether Montenegro-based Mr Cottrell was a permissible donor, claiming it was not clear whether he was on a UK electoral register at the time.

Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley wrote to the Electoral Commission to call for an investigation.

She said: “It is now abundantly clear that Mr Farage may have not only broken Parliamentary rules, he may have broken the law.

“Farage can’t brazenly brush this off as being ‘none of your business’ any longer.

"He needs to own his self-inflicted scandal and prove he’s not been secretly breaking the rules and taking the British public for fools.”

Mr Farage said he has “done no wrongdoing” after The Sunday Times investigation into his ties with Mr Cottrell.

He is already facing a parliamentary investigation over a £5m gift he received from Reform donor Christopher Harborne before he became an MP.

What do you think Mr Farage's statement will be about? Let us know in the comments.