Labour reports Farage's alleged Russian phone hack to police

Labour reported allegations that Russia hacked Nigel Farage’s phone and bank accounts to the Metropolitan Police and security services. Reform sources claimed Farage’s phone may have been hacked by Russian spies to obtain details of a £5m gift from a crypto-billionaire. Labour chair Anna Turley wrote to the Met Police and the National Cyber Security Centre to ask whether investigations are underway. Reform said it reported the incident to relevant authorities but it is not thought to include the Met Police, and it declined further comment while investigations continue. Reform sources said only four people knew about the gift and Farage submitted his phone for forensic analysis, which concluded hostile state actors linked to Moscow used spear phishing to compromise his phone, email, and bank accounts.

"Labour has repeatedly urged Reform to provide evidence to back up its claim and now Labour chair Anna Turley has written to the Met Police and National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to ask whether they are investigating the alleged hack. Reform said it had reported the alleged incident to the "relevant authorities" but that is not thought to include the Met Police. In a statement, Reform said it would "be inappropriate to comment further while investigations are ongoing"."

"Only four people in the world knew about the gift, and so Nigel decided to submit his mobile phone for forensic analysis by counter-espionage experts. They concluded that hostile state actors, almost certainly linked to Moscow, had used 'spear phishing' tactics to compromise his phone, email and bank accounts. Spear phishing is when hackers send personalised messages to individuals to trick them into installing malware or revealing sensitive information."

"Farage told the newspaper: "These actions by Russia are deeply concerning and highlight the threat they pose to British security." Labour and the Conservatives have called on Reform to hand any evidence they have to the UK's security services. In a letter to Farage on Friday, Anna Turley said: "The alleged crime is an incredibly serious one with potential wider implications for Britain's national security, the integrity of our politics and publ""

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