Labour has taken action by reporting the alleged Russian phone hack targeting Nigel Farage to security services and the police after Reform failed to demonstrate that they had done the same. Earlier this week, Mr. Farage was given a deadline of 24 hours to confirm that he had informed the authorities about the Kremlin-backed hackers breaching his device, but he did not meet this deadline.
Reform’s leader claimed that his phone was compromised, leading to the exposure of a £5 million gift from a crypto billionaire. While Reform stated that it had informed the “relevant authorities,” they have not provided further details since then.
Skepticism arose when Mr. Farage mentioned that his phone had been examined by counter-espionage experts who implicated Russia. Despite seeking clarification from the party, the Mirror did not receive a response.
In a letter to Mr. Farage, Labour chair Anna Turley emphasized the seriousness of the alleged crime and its potential implications for national security, politics, and public confidence in the democratic system. Due to the lack of clarity from Reform regarding the authorities notified about the security breach, Labour has reached out to the National Cyber Security Centre and the Metropolitan Police to ensure a thorough investigation.
Ms. Turley warned Mr. Farage that if he failed to provide evidence of reporting his suspicions of hacking to the authorities, she would take action herself. Labour has now reported the allegations of hostile state activity by Russia to the Metropolitan Police and the National Cyber Security Centre, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding Reform’s proactive measures.
Former NCSC chief Ciaran Martin dismissed Mr. Farage’s claims as unsubstantiated and questioned the involvement of Russia based solely on phone examination. The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is investigating whether there were any breaches of rules regarding the £5 million gift to Mr. Farage from Christopher Harborne.
Reform UK has been approached for a response. A Reform spokesperson mentioned that the incident had been reported to relevant authorities without specifying to whom. The NCSC stated their readiness to assist with any reported cyber incidents, emphasizing their commitment to defending democracy and providing support against online attacks.
