Overview
- In early July 2026 Labour MP Phil Brickell formally asked the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to investigate whether Nigel Farage lobbied the Bank of England in ways that could favour a principal donor.
- The complaint focuses on a private September 2025 meeting in which Farage reportedly urged Governor Andrew Bailey to abandon plans for a UK central bank digital currency known as 'Britcoin.'
- Farage is already under separate examination by the standards commissioner over an undeclared £5 million personal gift from donor Christopher Harborne, while Reform UK accepted about £15 million from Harborne between August 2025 and February 2026.
- The Bank of England says the September meeting was routine political engagement and has not released minutes, and Farage and his backers deny any wrongdoing or expectation of returns from donations.
- The case raises wider stakes because Harborne is reported to hold about a 12% stake in Tether, changes to stablecoin rules such as the recent removal of a proposed £20,000 cap could affect investors, and breaches of MPs’ lobbying rules can lead to suspension and recall petitions.