Nigel Farage faces probe over expenses funded by Arron Banks

The European parliament will investigate a complaint about Nigel Farage for allegedly failing to declare payments made to him by Arron Banks. 

President Antonio Tajani said the Brexit Party leader has been referred to the advisory committee, the body responsible for implementing the members’ code of conduct, after he received a complaint.. 

Mr Tajani referred the issue to an advisory committee of five MEPs that investigates the conduct of members.

Under European parliament rules, MEPs must declare payments made to them, or other support given by third parties.

It follows a Channel 4 documentary, which claimed that insurance tycoon Mr Banks spent approximately £450,000 on Mr Farage in the year following the EU referendum in 2016.

After it aired, Liberal Democrat MEP Catherine Bearder called on parliamentary authorities to investigate into Mr Farage’s breaking of the rules.  

A spokesman for the European Parliament said the earliest possible date the committee will meet is June 4, after the European elections. 

One MEP will be appointed to lead an examination and write a report recommending a possible sanction.

Any punishment will be decided by the European parliament’s president, from either a reprimand to withholding a salary.

Mr Farage will be invited to comment before the committee makes a recommendation on possible sanctions.

The Standard has approached Mr Farage and the Brexit Party for comment.  

It comes as Mr Farage’s party faced an Electoral Commission review into its funding ahead of this week’s elections.

Mr Farage has accused the Electoral Commission of being “absolutely full of Remainers” as the watchdog visited the Brexit Party’s headquarters. 

He also claimed the regulator was staffed by establishment figures and was not a neutral organisation – and said he believed his party was “more compliant” than any others standing in the European elections.

Discussing his party’s donation system, he said: “I’ve got a team of four qualified accountants looking after our money, our income. I bet we’re more compliant than any of the other parties in this election.

“I’ve crossed with the Electoral Commission before – they are not a neutral organisation, absolutely full of Remainers, full of establishment figures.

“We are about not just leaving the European Union, the Brexit Party is about changing politics for good – getting SW1 and Westminster to reflect the country more broadly and the Electoral Commission are part of that huge reform that is needed.”

Mr Farage said his party was looking for repeat donations, and had sent money back if it was unsure where it had come from.

“I’m not stupid. I’ve set this up to take on the Labour and Conservative parties who, I think, have betrayed the biggest democratic vote in our nation’s history. I know that when you do that the establishment will not come out with a tray of gin and tonics and say ‘well done’.

“I understand how it works. As I say, I’m not stupid, I’ve set this up properly, I’m entirely confident that we are more compliant than any of the other parties right now.”

Mr Farage confirmed he was not talking to Channel 4 News following their reports, saying: “I’m not speaking to them now, they are political activists. They are supposed to be a public service broadcaster, they’re not behaving in that way.

“We’ve no interest in talking to them whatsoever.”