Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform Party, could see his additional earnings exceed £1 million this year, according to the latest declaration of his financial interests. This sum comes on top of his MP salary, but questions have been raised over his undisclosed involvement in side ventures, particularly a high-profile gold promotion role.
Farage Retains Gold Ambassador Job After Election
Despite his election to Parliament, Farage has retained his position as an ambassador for Direct Bullion, a gold trading company that specialises in working with high-net-worth clients. Since March, he has appeared in several promotional videos encouraging investment in “tax-free” gold coins, specifically those produced by the Royal Mint.
Farage’s dedicated page on Direct Bullion’s website touts the stability of gold as an asset, with claims such as “Gold has Maintained its Value for 3,000 Years” and that it is “Viewed as the Ultimate Asset for Wealth Protection.”
Jo Maugham, executive director of the Good Law Project, commented: “Farage is a machine for monetising his status. Wherever there’s money, he’s there; wherever there’s brass there’s muck.”
One video posted on Direct Bullion’s social media, recorded after Farage’s election, instructs viewers on how to unlock “the big pensions secret” through gold investments. The former UKIP leader also discussed his work with the company during a recent appearance on the Triggernometry podcast, which was sponsored by Direct Bullion and included an advert for the company.
Disclosure Concerns: Should Farage Have Declared His Gold-Selling Role?
Under the House of Commons Code of Conduct, MPs must declare any outside earnings over £300 within a calendar year. However, the issue is whether Farage’s part-time work promoting gold crossed this threshold and whether it was declared appropriately. The most recent register of MPs’ financial interests, which extends up to 4 August, does not clarify this.
When questioned by The Mirror as part of a broader investigation, Farage maintained that he had fully disclosed all income received since his election on 4 July. He added that his lawyer handled the necessary submissions.
The Good Law Project also reached out to Farage’s parliamentary office for comment, but no response was provided at the time of publication.
Farage’s ongoing association with Direct Bullion has sparked debate over transparency and accountability for MPs engaged in private business ventures, particularly in industries with high financial stakes such as gold trading.
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