Richard Tice is currently being investigated by the standards commissioner for allegedly failing to disclose a vested interest. As the deputy leader of Reform UK, Tice is now under scrutiny while his superior, Nigel Farage, faces increasing pressure regarding his financial affairs.
The investigation concerning Tice’s conduct is centered around his failure to declare an interest in Israel during discussions on antisemitism at Westminster Hall. This inquiry was initiated on July 28. Tice responded to the probe by emphasizing his stance against antisemitism, criticizing an anti-Israel group for questioning his reference to the register of interests during a debate on UK democracy and Israeli influence.
Under rule six of the MPs’ code of conduct, Reform UK’s deputy leader is being probed for potentially violating regulations that require members to transparently disclose any relevant interests in parliamentary proceedings and interactions with public officials.
Previously, Nigel Farage faced a separate standards investigation for not reporting a £5 million gift from Thai cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne. However, this inquiry was paused following Farage’s resignation as an MP and may resume if he is re-elected in the upcoming Clacton by-election.
Reform UK has maintained that the £5 million gift was a personal, unconditional donation, negating the necessity for declaration. Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg is examining whether Farage adhered to parliamentary rules mandating new MPs to report any significant gifts or donations received in the year before entering the Commons.
The controversy arose when Farage received the £5 million from Harborne shortly before announcing his candidacy in the Clacton constituency in 2024. Opposition parties like Labour and the Liberal Democrats have criticized Reform UK for what they perceive as a pattern of disregarding rules and ethics. Labour accused Farage’s party of flouting regulations and accumulating a series of sleaze-related scandals, while the Liberal Democrats emphasized the importance of transparency and integrity in politics.
Deputy leader Daisy Cooper highlighted the necessity of adhering to rules on interest disclosure, pointing out the ongoing investigation into Reform UK’s acceptance of an undeclared £5 million donation from a bitcoin billionaire.