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The UK Defence Secretary, John Healey, has called on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to provide greater transparency over a £5 million donation he received from billionaire businessman Christopher Harborne.
Healey raised concerns about whether any portion of the money may have originated from profits connected to Russian-linked energy dealings. The donation was reportedly made in 2024 through Harborne, a British-Thai businessman who owns aviation fuel company AML Global.
Healey asked Farage to confirm that none of the funds were “derived from transactions with Russian state-linked energy companies” and sought assurances that AML Global had fully complied with sanctions imposed on Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
AML Global responded by stating that the company follows all UK, EU, US, and UN sanctions rules. A spokesperson said the company regularly screens suppliers, customers, and banking partners to ensure compliance with international restrictions.
The controversy follows earlier reports revealing that Farage received the £5 million gift shortly before the 2024 UK general election. According to Farage, the money did not need to be declared because it was an unconditional gift received before he officially became a parliamentary candidate.
However, the matter is now under formal investigation by parliamentary standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg after complaints were raised by the Conservative Party regarding whether the donation should have been disclosed.
In his letter, Healey also questioned AML Global’s international fuel operations, noting the company works across more than 1,200 locations worldwide, including regions in eastern Europe, central Asia, and the Gulf.
He additionally asked Farage whether rising aviation fuel prices caused by tensions in the Middle East could financially benefit Harborne’s company. The concerns came after Farage initially backed US-Israeli military action involving Iran before tensions escalated around the Strait of Hormuz.
Healey wrote that the public deserved clarity on whether political positions may have been influenced by financial interests. He stressed that his purpose was not to make direct accusations, but to seek answers “required in the public interest.”
Farage and Reform UK did not provide a public response to the allegations at the time of reporting.
