Nigel Farage faces new scrutiny regarding the purchase of his £885,000 Clacton residence, with calls for him to provide more clarity on the matter. Recent revelations suggest that Farage’s partner, Laure Ferrari, acquired the property in 2017, contradicting Farage’s previous statement that he had bought the house.
Ferrari, who initially worked as a waitress in Strasbourg to make ends meet, met Farage while employed at a restaurant and later joined his staff at the European Parliament. Despite owning a substantial property portfolio worth £3 million, Farage did not purchase the Clacton house, as he previously indicated.
Farage clarified that he misspoke about buying the property and denied providing financial assistance to Ferrari, asserting that she comes from a financially stable family. However, a BBC investigation found no evidence to support Ferrari’s ability to afford the property outright without a mortgage.
In response to mounting questions, Farage sought tax advice to ensure compliance with regulations, following criticism directed at him for criticizing Angela Rayner’s stamp duty payments. Farage’s legal representatives maintain that the property purchase adhered to tax laws without any impropriety.
Opposition parties, including Labour and the Liberal Democrats, have criticized Farage’s inconsistent statements and urged him to address the discrepancies in his account of the property transaction. Farage’s spokesperson reiterated that Ferrari is the sole owner of the house, emphasizing that Farage has no financial stake in the property.
Additionally, Farage faced scrutiny for failing to disclose a trip to the US to attend a fundraiser for President Trump, raising concerns about potential earnings from the event. MPs are required to report overseas visits exceeding £300 within 28 days if not funded publicly or by the MP. Farage’s team acknowledged the oversight and pledged to update the records accordingly.