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PoliticsPoll: 45% see Farage as establishment, approval plunges to -24% amid undeclared crypto donation scandal
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Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, faces a major political crisis after it emerged he received an undeclared £5 million gift from Thailand-based crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne shortly before becoming an MP. Parliament's standards watchdog has launched an investigation. Farage has denied wrongdoing, claiming he is the victim of a witch-hunt, and resigned as MP for Clacton to trigger a 'people versus the establishment' by-election. However, polling by More in Common reveals that 45% of the public consider Farage himself part of the establishment, undermining his anti-establishment brand. 69% of the public, including 41% of Reform voters, believe he should have declared the donation. His personal approval ratings have plunged to minus 24%, the lowest since the last general election. Analysts warn the scandal could weaken Reform UK's ability to attack other parties on sleaze and cronyism.
Source report
Public opinion shifts as Reform UK leader faces standards investigation over undeclared gift from crypto-billionaire
Voters have turned against Nigel Farage amid the ongoing sleaze row over a £5 million gift he received from a Thailand-based crypto-billionaire.
Parliament's standards watchdog has launched an investigation into the undeclared donation to the Reform UK leader from Christopher Harborne, made shortly before Farage became an MP.
Farage has insisted he is the victim of a witch-hunt and last week quit as MP for Clacton to trigger a "people versus the establishment" by-election in the seat.
Key Polling Findings
According to polling by More in Common:
- 45% of the public believe privately-educated Farage — a former MEP and stockbroker — is himself part of the establishment
- This compares with 52% for Keir Starmer and 54% for Kemi Badenoch
- Only 41% think incoming prime minister Andy Burnham is in the establishment
- 69% of respondents said Farage should have declared the £5 million donation, including 41% of Reform voters
Approval Ratings Plunge
Farage's personal approval ratings have dropped to minus 24% in the past month — the lowest they have been since the last general election.
Expert Analysis
Luke Tryl, director of More in Common, said:
"We can now say for sure that Farage's £5 million donation has cut through, and it's an unflattering look for the Reform leader."
He added:
"There's a real risk for Farage that the public does not buy into the idea that he's being unfairly treated by the establishment — even if they might feel sympathy for his arguments about the press being intrusive into his personal and family life, and may agree that the standards model needs to be updated."
Tryl warned that the scandal could undermine one of Farage's key political assets:
"The fact that almost as many Britons consider Farage to be 'of the establishment' as Keir Starmer or Kemi Badenoch suggests that this scandal could undermine one of Farage's key assets as a politician — that he's not like the other politicians."
He concluded:
"The charges of sleaze and cronyism that Reform has levelled at the Tories and Labour could have less bite if this story about Farage has some staying power."
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Source
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Western
Part of this Story
Nigel Farage faces UK standards watchdog probes over undeclared donations and benefits