Nigel Farage has broken parliamentary rules on his first day back, after he filmed a video of himself on the roof of the Houses of Parliament.
The Reform UK leader – who resigned and triggered a by-election earlier this summer – was sworn back into Parliament after his Clacton victory on Tuesday.
Within hours of his return, he posted a video of himself to social media shot on the roof of the building.
Permission from parliamentary authorities must be sought before any filming takes place on the estate. But the roof is even more sensitive as a result of its implications for security and personal safety.
It is understood that Mr Farage did not seek permission to record the social media video.
A House of Commons spokesperson told The Independent: “Unauthorised photography or filming is not permitted on the Parliamentary Estate. Where it is seen or reported to be happening, the individual in question will be asked to stop and reminded of the rules. Where breaches are observed or reported, the Serjeant at Arms will discuss with (or write to) the Member involved to clarify, remind of and re-iterate the rules.”
In the video, Mr Farage said: “Well it’s first day back in Parliament after the by-election. Big Ben bonging and have a look at where we are.
“I mean this whole building is extraordinary and yes it needs a fortune spent on it to keep it up to speed but it is a magnificent place.”
The Reform leader also said he is “pleased to be back with an increased majority and more votes than we got in the general election”. It comes despite his main challenger at the by-election being Count Binface, who managed to sweep up over 20 per cent of the ballot with 9,455 votes to Mr Farage’s 22,239 – far more votes than he has received at any other election.
Before quitting Westminster, Mr Farage was being investigated by the parliamentary standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg over a £5m gift from cryptocurrency tycoon Christopher Harborne, which he received before taking his seat in the Commons.
Under Commons rules, new MPs are required to register any gifts worth more than £300 they received in the previous 12 months, except where the gift “could not be reasonably thought by others” to relate to their political activities.
While Mr Harborne has donated more than £25m to Reform UK in total, Mr Farage has repeatedly said that he was not required to register the £5m “gift” because it was purely personal.
He has given different explanations for the £5m sum, including claims it was for non-political purposes, to pay for his safety and security and later a “reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years”.
Parliamentary rules say any potentially “relevant interests” should be declared from the 12 months before becoming an MP.
That investigation was paused when Mr Farage resigned his seat but has now been reopened since he was reelected as an MP.
Mr Farage’s decision to call a by-election before the standards committee’s verdict was part of an attempt to take the heat out of any sanctions, and to consolidate his own support in the face of growing criticism.
However, a second by-election could still be triggered if the investigation concludes with a suspension of more than 10 days for Mr Farage.
A suspension of more than 10 days would trigger a recall petition in Mr Farage’s Clacton constituency. If this is signed by at least 10 per cent of the electorate in Clacton, a second by-election would be called.
Reform UK has been contacted for comment.
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