Farage under mounting pressure to prove Russian hack claim

Reform UK said counter-espionage analysis of Nigel Farage’s phone, email, and bank accounts indicated compromise by hostile actors, almost certainly linked to Moscow, using spear phishing before details of an undeclared £5m gift emerged. Farage said the alleged activity was deeply concerning and emphasized threats to British security. Scrutiny intensified because Farage had not publicly declared the gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, despite parliamentary rules requiring registration of gifts above a threshold. A Guardian spokesperson criticized the claim as an attempt to deflect from legitimate financial scrutiny and said it was absurd to attribute the gift disclosure to a Russian hack. Labour and Conservatives urged Farage to provide any evidence to UK security services, while the National Cyber Security Centre was reported as unaware of any related report.

"Reform UK claimed over the weekend that analysis of Farage's phone by counter-espionage experts suggested that Farage's phone, email and bank accounts were compromised by hostile actors, almost certainly linked to Moscow, using spear phishing tactics, before the Guardian revealed details of his undeclared gift last month."

"A spokesperson for the Guardian described Farage's claim as an attempt to deflect attention from legitimate scrutiny of his financial affairs. They added: Nigel Farage is once again hiding behind a baseless attack on the media rather than facing up to scrutiny from journalists and politicians. The spokesperson said it was absurd for Farage to suggest it had found out about the gift from a Russian hack."

"Farage told the Mail on Sunday that the alleged Russian activity was deeply concerning and highlighted the threat they pose to British security. Farage's claims followed intensifying scrutiny of the 5m gift he received from Harborne. Farage had not publicly declared the gift, despite parliamentary transparency rules requiring MPs to register gifts and donations above a certain threshold."

"Labour and the Conservatives called on him to hand any evidence he has to Britain's security services. Farage's spokesperson did not respond to questions from the Guardian over who he had reported the alleged hack to, whether any evidence was handed to British authorities or how the examination of his handset had suggested that Russia was responsible. It is understood the National Cyber Security Centre is not aware of a report from Farage related to the alleged hack."

Read at www.theguardian.com