Labour Reports Nigel Farage's Alleged Russian Phone Hack to Police After Reform Fails to Do So

Labour chair Anna Turley has formally reported allegations that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage's phone, email and bank accounts were compromised by Russian state actors to the Metropolitan Police and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Reform had publicly claimed the breach occurred but did not report it to official authorities, prompting the Labour intervention on grounds of national security.

The Alleged Breach and Claims

Reform sources told the Mail on Sunday that Farage became "intensely suspicious" of a foreign compromise after The Guardian revealed he received a £5m gift from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne. According to the party, Farage submitted his mobile phone for forensic analysis by counter-espionage experts, who concluded that hostile state actors linked to Moscow used spear phishing tactics—personalised messages designed to trick recipients into installing malware or revealing sensitive information—to gain access to his accounts.

Farage told the newspaper: "These actions by Russia are deeply concerning and highlight the threat they pose to British security." The Reform leader suggested that the leak of details about the cryptocurrency donation originated from materials obtained through the alleged hack. Reform said only four people knew about the gift before it became public.

Labour's Formal Report and Concerns

In a letter sent to the Met and the NCSC, Labour chair Turley stated: "The alleged crime is an incredibly serious one with potential wider implications for Britain's national security, the integrity of our politics and public confidence in our democratic system." She stressed that evidence of hostile-state hacking must be placed in the hands of proper authorities for thorough and independent investigation.

The Guardian reported that Reform had said it notified "relevant authorities" without specifying which ones. By Thursday afternoon, the party had not formally contacted the NCSC, and Farage had not reported the matter to the Met Police. The Metropolitan Police is now considering reaching out to Farage to ask whether he wishes to make a formal report. Labour's contact with the force does not constitute an official crime report, so the Met is unlikely to launch an investigation based solely on the Labour party's notification.

Official Response

A Reform spokesperson declined further comment, stating: "It would be inappropriate to comment further while investigations are ongoing." The NCSC said it stands ready to support any suspected cyber incident that is reported to it, emphasising that "defending democracy is always our priority."