A parliamentary standards investigation into whether Nigel Farage properly declared gifts and support has resumed following his re-election as MP for Clacton.
The inquiry, led by the parliamentary commissioner for standards, Daniel Greenberg, had been paused after Farage resigned his seat and called a by-election, arguing that scrutiny of his finances had been unfair.
The commissioner’s website now shows that the investigation has restarted.
Greenberg is examining whether Farage should have declared a £5 million gift from Christopher Harborne, a Thailand-based businessman, made before the previous election.
Farage has said he was not in politics at the time of the gift.
The investigation was later widened to consider whether Farage should have declared support from George Cottrell, who allowed him to use a London home and paid for some social-media filming in 2024.
Cottrell has previously been convicted of fraud.
Farage said he called the by-election so voters in Clacton could decide whether he was fit to serve as an MP. The major political parties did not field candidates, leaving him to contest the seat against novelty and fringe candidates, including Count Binface.
A resignation does not end a parliamentary standards inquiry. It pauses the process, which resumes if the MP is re-elected.
If Farage is found to have breached parliamentary rules and is suspended from the House of Commons for at least 10 sitting days, he could face a recall petition. A by-election would follow if at least 10% of eligible local voters signed it.
Farage has called the inquiry a political tool. Reform MP Sarah Pochin described the process as a “kangaroo court”.
Labour said the resumption meant Farage would have to answer outstanding questions about his finances, while the Conservative Party said the by-election had been an attempt to avoid scrutiny.
Farage said his by-election victory showed he had “stuck up two fingers to the entire political establishment.”
