Nigel Farage should face 'highest penalty' over undeclared gifts from Arron Banks, says EU committee

Brexit Party leader should be referred to European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) for further investigation, letter says

Jon Stone Brussels @joncstone ,
Samuel Osborne @SamuelOsborne93
19 hours ago

The EU parliament’s disciplinary body has recommended that Nigel Farage faces the “highest penalty” for a “serious breach” of its code of conduct, a leaked letter suggests.

The recommendation from the European parliament’s Advisory Committee on the Conduct of Members, revealed by Channel 4 News, also suggests referring the Brexit Party leader to the European Anti-Fraud Office (Olaf) for further investigation over claims about the sources of funding for his lifestyle.

In the letter, send to the parliament’s president Antonio Tajani, the disciplinary committee says the parliament’s authorities should “liaise and cooperate with the UK national investigatory authorities, including the National Crime Agency, the Electoral Commission and the Metropolitan Police, in order for the full facts to be established”.

The Independent revealed in May that Mr Farage was to be put under investigation by the parliament over claims he failed to declare £450,000 in gifts from Arron Banks, who himself is under investigation by the National Crime Agency.

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