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Nigel Farage has meltdown after being asked about undeclared gifts from convicted criminal

Published 10:38 7 Jul 2026 BST

Updated 10:38 7 Jul 2026 BST

Harry Warner
Nigel Farage has meltdown after being asked about undeclared gifts from convicted criminal

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He claimed to have been harassed by journalists

Nigel Farage was filmed having an almighty meltdown after he was asked about undeclared gifts from convicted criminal George Cottrell.

In its essence, the most recent Farage controversy (yes, there have been plenty) revolves around the Reform UK leader receiving gifts from Cottrell in the year before he became an MP.

Under parliamentary rules, new members must declare financial interests and "registrable benefits" received in the 12 months before their election.

It has been reported that Farage did not declare these gifts.

Cottrell faced 20 years in jail for 21 counts related to money laundering, fraud, blackmail and extortion.

He eventually brokered a plea deal, admitted guilt to a charge of wire fraud and ended up serving just eight months in prison.

This was indeed the subject matter of questions posed by a Sky News journalist yesterday to Nigel Farage as he returned from - checks notes - Independence Day celebrations in America.

Farage's reaction to the questions quickly went viral as it became clear that he's feeling a bit hot under the collar with the constant controversies coming his way.

"You tell your bosses, you harass my family anymore, there will be serious consequences," he said.

"That's what your organisation has done this morning, go away."

Farage starts to walk away as the journalist replies: "Was it a mistake to not declare the gifts, sir?"

The Reform leader spins around in a fit of rage saying, "did you not hear me?"

"You have broken all the rules, Leveson and everything."

Farage has since continued his claim on X that Sky had repeatedly "hounded" his daughter after he claimed The Times had revealed where he lived.

Both these claims have been denied.

In a post to X, Sky News said: "Farage accused Sky News of 'harassing' his family; Sky News has not contacted anyone from his family about the story."

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