EXCLUSIVE: The Electoral Commission has confirmed it will look into hospitality heaped on Nigel Farage and senior party figures in Dubai last January by mega-rich supporters
Nigel Farage faces being embroiled in another investigation after Reform was accused of failing to declare donors who paid for glitzy fundraising events in the Middle East.
The Electoral Commission has confirmed it had received a complaint over hospitality heaped on Mr Farage and senior party figures in Dubai last January by mega-rich supporters.
Fresh scrutiny over Reform’s finances come after Scotland Yard confirmed this week that it was investigating separate allegations the party broke foreign funding laws.
The latest furore centres on whether Mr Farage should have declared lavish hospitality he received during a two-day trip in May 2025, according to an investigation by Babelfish.
One event was a reception hosted by the Binghatti family, who are among the largest property tycoons in the emirate. Hussain Binghatti Aljbori is ranked by Forbes as one of the richest men in the Middle East, with a £1.8billion fortune. The other was a lunch reportedly paid for by Indian billionaire businessman Sunny Varkey, according to Bloomberg News. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing from the Binghatti family, or Mr Varkey.
Neither the party nor Mr Farage have declared donations covering the cost of these events. The Electoral Commission has confirmed it will review the evidence after a complaint from Labour MP Phil Brickell.
UK political parties must check whether any donation worth over £500 is from a “permissible” donor – including UK voters and companies – and must declare any donations worth more than £11,180.
After Labour MP Phil Brickell wrote to the Electoral Commission calling for a probe into the trip, the commission has now confirmed that it will review the evidence.
In his letter, the Bolton West MP said: “These reports appear to raise a straightforward question of electoral law: were goods, services or hospitality provided to Reform UK in connection with these fundraising events, and if so, were they donations which were properly recorded and reported to the Commission?”
Speaking to this newspaper, he added: “We need to understand if this is just a case of a couple of bad apples – albeit ones that haven’t fallen very far from the tree – or if there is a systemic culture of obfuscation, secrecy and, essentially, cheating, within Reform UK.”
Mr Vince said: “Nigel Farage has put democracy in Britain up for sale to the highest bidder – he clearly does not care where the money comes from – but we should. Ultimately all of this just reinforces the case for a total ban on donations to political parties in Britain”.
An Electoral Commission spokesperson said: “We can confirm we have received a letter from Phil Brickell MP regarding Reform and fundraising in Dubai. The Commission reviews all information it receives and is considering this matter under its regulatory remit.”
Reform UK did not respond to requests for comment.

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