Nigel Farage has said a £5million personal donation from a crypto billionaire was a 'reward' for his years of Brexit campaigning.
The Reform UK leader insisted he 'cannot be bought by anyone' following the 'gift' by Thai-based entrepreneur Christopher Harborne just before Mr Farage announced his intention to run in the 2024 general election.
He told The Sun the seven-figure donation was given to him as a 'reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years', and that it was given on a 'completely unconditional basis'.
But he had previously said that the sum was for security, having been the target of attacks and threats, so he could be 'safe and secure' for the rest of his life - and was not designed to influence his political decisions.
'I have tried and failed in the past to get security funded by the Home Office, and I don't think the State will ever help me,' he said in April. 'Christopher is an ardent supporter who is deeply concerned for my safety.'
Mr Farage said yesterday: 'It's very unusual for someone to give up 27 years of their life to campaign for something.
'And this was given to me on an unconditional basis, completely unconditional basis. But frankly, it was given as a reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years.'
The Reform leader admitted last month that he would never be able to take his safety for granted after revealing that his home had been attacked.
Thai-based entrepreneur Christopher Harborne became extremely wealthy through his investments in cryptocurrency
But he faces a parliamentary investigation into his conduct in accepting the £5million gift, given before he was elected.
The Commons' sleaze watchdog will now investigate whether Mr Farage breached Parliament's rules in accepting the donations from Mr Harborne, who has supported both Reform, donating £12million last year, and its previous incarnation, The Brexit Party.
New MPs have to declare any donations received in the 12 months before their election within a month of them winning their seats.
Mr Farage now faces the prospect of being suspended from the House of Commons if the probe finds him to have acted improperly.
And if the Reform UK leader were suspended for ten days or more, a 'recall petition' could be triggered which may see him having to fight to retain his seat in Clacton, Essex.
Yesterday, he hit out at the investigation, claiming that no one, 'not even Elon Musk' could bribe him. He said: 'He [Musk] wanted to give us a load of money if I said certain things publicly, and I refused.
'I didn't do it so I made an enemy of Elon Musk, but that shows you I'm my own man, I make my own mind up.'
However, Mr Farage was facing further questions last night after it emerged that he paid for a £1.4million property in 2024 in cash - soon after receiving the £5million donation.
Nigel Farage said the seven-figure donation was given to him as a 'reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years'
Mr Farage branded the Sky News report 'fake news by the establishment media who will do anything to hurt Reform'.
And a spokesman for the Reform leader said that the offer and purchase process for the property 'commenced before the gift'.
However, a Conservative Party spokesman said yesterday that £5million is 'an enormous amount', adding that Mr Farage 'needs to explain how he got it, why he got it, and why he didn't declare it'.
They added: 'If there is a simple answer, then he should welcome these investigations.
'But like so often with Reform, there is something very fishy about the whole story.'
Meanwhile, Labour Party chairman Anna Turley accused Mr Farage of 'avoiding legitimate questions since news of his billionaire backer's 'gift'.
Ms Turley said it was 'right that he faces a proper investigation'.