Nigel Farage used nearly £33,000 of donor cash to help support Donald Trump in the US election - months before he complained about Labour activists volunteering for Kamala Harris.

After he was elected as an MP, the Reform UK leader missed the King’s Speech to travel to Wisconsin in July to attend the Republican National Convention (RNC).

He publicly admitted his trip was intended “to support my friend Donald Trump at the RNC”, adding “we all have a duty to support and defend democracy.”

It comes after Mr Trump’s campaign filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), calling for an investigation into whether around 100 UK Labour Party activists and staff volunteering for Ms Harris’ campaign was a breach of US election rules.

Under federal law, the travel expenses of a volunteer are considered a donation to the party they work for if they exceed $1,000 (£770) in one election.

When it was first revealed that Labour activists had been volunteering for Ms Harris, Mr Farage said: “This is direct election interference by the governing Labour Party, and particularly stupid if Trump wins. Who is paying for all of this?”

Mr Farage’s trip was paid for by Christopher Harborne, a British tech investor based in Thailand.

Mr Farage declared on his register of members interests that the flights and accommodation for the trip came to £32,836.

Also see yesterday’s discussion of Trump’s complaint.

  • katy ✨
    link
    fedilink
    129 days ago

    this is the guy kier starmer instructed labour to stand down for