Defence Secretary John Healey has called on Nigel Farage to be transparent about the £5 million gift he received from a billionaire businessman, specifically asking whether any of that money could be linked to profits connected to Russia.
In a letter to the Reform UK leader, Healey also asked him to address the possibility that the war against Iran might increase the earnings of AML Global, an aviation fuel company owned by Christopher Harborne, who gave Farage the £5 million in 2024. Farage initially supported the US-Israeli attacks on Iran.
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The letter, seen by the Guardian, asked Farage to confirm that none of the money came from “transactions with Russian state-linked energy companies” and to provide assurances that AML Global had fully complied with all sanctions on Russian energy since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In a statement to the Guardian, AML Global said it had fully complied with all UK and international sanctions and screened all business partners to ensure the same.
Reform UK and Farage were contacted for comment.
The Guardian revealed last month that shortly before the 2024 general election, Farage received £5 million from Harborne, a British-Thai dual citizen living in Thailand.
Farage did not disclose the money at the time, and it only came to light when the Guardian reported it.
He has argued that because it was an unconditional gift and was received before he announced his candidacy for parliament, there was no need to declare it once he became an MP.
However, after a complaint from the Conservatives, Farage now faces a formal investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog, Daniel Greenberg, into whether he should have declared it.
In the letter, Healey noted that AML Global supplies jet fuel through a network of “main and regional oil companies” covering more than 1,200 locations worldwide, including Central Asia, the Gulf, and Eastern Europe.
Healey asked Farage to confirm that none of the profits that helped fund the £5 million gift came from transactions with Russian state-linked energy companies, that AML Global had fully complied with all Russia sanctions, and that “no fuel sourced from Russian-controlled refineries has passed through its supply chain.”
The letter continued: “If you cannot answer either question with confidence, will you commit to a fully independent audit of AML Global’s supply chain and publish the results?”
Referring to Farage’s past comments about Russia—for example, that NATO “provoked” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by expanding eastwards—Healey said this broader situation “places Reform UK under a Russian cloud that only transparency can lift.”
On Iran, the letter asked Farage whether he was aware that Harborne’s company could benefit from rising aviation fuel prices when he made supportive comments about the attack on Iran, which led to Iran blockading the Strait of Hormuz.
Healey added: “The public is entitled to ask whether your financial interests were influencing your political stance and your initial support for sending UK armed forces into a Middle East war without a plan.”
Healey wrote: “I’m not asking you to return the money. I’m asking you to open the books. If the answers are as clean as you would no doubt claim, that transparency will cost you nothing. If they are not, the public has every right to know.”
He added: “I want to be clear: the purpose of this letter is not to make allegations, but to ask questions that the public interest requires you to answer.”
A spokesperson for AML Global said the company is “committed to operating in full compliance with US, UK, EU and UN sanctions programmes and with any additional restrictions required by our business and banking partners.”
“We screen all new counter-parties against a database of US (OFAC), UK (OFSI), EU and UN security council sanctions. Counter-parties include suppliers.”…customers and banks. We also re-screen existing counterparties on a regular basis.”
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Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the question Healey asked Farage whether any part of the 5 million gift might have come from profits linked to Russia
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Who is Healey and who is Farage in this context
Answer Healey refers to John Healey the UKs Shadow Defence Secretary Farage refers to Nigel Farage the leader of the Reform UK party and a prominent political figure
2 What was the 5 million gift
Answer It was a large donation or financial gift given to Nigel Farage or his political party Reform UK The exact source of the money was being questioned
3 Why would anyone ask if the money came from Russianlinked profits
Answer Because there are concerns about foreign interference in UK politics Russia has been accused of trying to influence elections and political parties in other countries The question is about checking if the moneys origin is clean and legal
4 Did Healey actually accuse Farage of taking Russian money
Answer No Healey asked a direct question he wanted Farage to confirm that none of the 5 million came from profits connected to Russia It was a challenge for Farage to publicly rule it out
IntermediateLevel Questions
5 Why is this question politically significant
Answer It touches on national security and political integrity If any part of the gift came from Russianlinked profits it could suggest foreign influence on a UK political party For Healey its a way to put Farage on the defensive and raise doubts about Reform UKs funding
6 What is a Russianlinked profit
Answer It means money earned from business activities investments or assets that are connected to Russia This could include profits from companies that operate in Russia pay taxes there or are owned by Russian individuals or entities
7 How could Farage have known the source of the money
Answer He would need to have done due diligence on the donor If the donor is a British citizen or company they should declare if their wealth comes from Russian sources Farage could also ask for a written guarantee or check public records
