Nigel Farage responded vehemently to inquiries about his tax situation when questioned about the exemption from paying stamp duty on his residence in Clacton. When pressed on whether he should step down due to this matter, he rebuked the reporter, labeling the question as distasteful. At a Reform conference, a security guard intervened physically to move the reporter away, prompting her surprised reactions captured in footage by The Mirror. Mr. Farage faced intensified scrutiny after a report by the Daily Mirror exposed how he saved £44,000 by having his partner purchase their home in his Essex constituency. This revelation followed his criticism of Angela Rayner, former deputy PM, over a stamp duty error.
During a television interview, Mr. Farage appeared unsettled when questioned about tax matters, responding defensively to inquiries about stamp duty on his partner’s property. He acknowledged on Sky News that he misspoke in previous statements regarding the ownership of a house in Clacton, clarifying that the four-bedroom property with a pool is solely owned by his partner, Laure Ferrari, who spent nearly £900,000 on it. Contrary to accusations of impropriety, Mr. Farage emphasized that he has no ownership stake in the property and dismissed suggestions of wrongdoing.
If the property had been purchased by Mr. Farage, the stamp duty liability would have been significantly higher, around £75,000 for a second home purchase, resulting in a saving of £44,000. This discrepancy has led to allegations of hypocrisy given his public stance on tax matters. The controversy surrounding his tax affairs has overshadowed his recent Reform conference in Birmingham, where he outlined his vision for the country, including stringent immigration policies if elected.
In a separate incident, Mr. Farage faced criticism for his absence from Parliament following the summer recess to attend a congressional hearing in Washington, where he criticized Britain’s free speech record. His remarks drew condemnation from Democrats, with one labeling him a supporter of authoritarian regimes. Despite the controversies, Reform’s deputy leader downplayed the significance of Mr. Farage’s tax affairs, emphasizing the party’s focus on their message of hope for the future.
There is no indication of any legal violations by Mr. Farage or Ms. Ferrari regarding the Clacton property. The Labour Party chair has called for transparency from Mr. Farage, accusing him of misleading the public about his property ownership. Allegations of deceit and double standards have been directed at him, questioning the motives behind the property purchase arrangement.