Nigel Farage is once again in America helping to fundraise for Donald Trump’s Republican party, with the latest data showing he has spent more than 800 hours on outside employment since being elected.
The Reform UK leader is appearing on Thursday night to give a keynote speech at a fundraiser for Florida Republicans’ “Disruptors” dinner, with tables for top-tier “Trump sponsors” costing $25,000 (£19,000).
Before his appearance, he was absent from prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, and he did not appear in the Commons on Thursday.
Farage has made at least nine trips abroad, including eight to the US, since he was elected MP for Clacton in Essex last July, with many of them either funded by donors or undertaken for paid employment such as speeches.
In a statement issued by the US organisers, Farage said: “I’m so incredibly excited to be joining the Republican party of Florida for the Disruptors Dinner.
“President Trump’s decisive win and return to the White House inspires us all to continue the fight for freedom globally. I’m looking forward to being back in the Free State of Florida to celebrate with all of you.”
Data from the MPs’ register of interests shows that Farage has registered an estimated 800 hours of work since entering parliament, while also carrying out his job as leader of the Reform party.
His paid social media work, articles for the Telegraph, job as a brand ambassador for a gold company, speeches and GB News presenting role work out at about 22 hours a week in additional employment since early July.
The total shows he rivals Geoffrey Cox, the highly paid barrister and former attorney general, for the most time spent on work outside his job as an MP. Between 2009 and 2021, Cox worked about 600 to 1,600 hours on outside interests every year.
Matt Western, the Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington, said: “It’s embarrassing that Nigel Farage spent decades trying to get into parliament, and now he has, he does everything but represent his Clacton constituents.”
Sarah Olney, the Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokesperson, added: “Nigel Farage is acting like the MP for Mar-a-Lago, not Clacton-on-Sea. He’s a part-time parliamentarian – working harder for Trump than for the people he represents. His party’s in a shambles and it looks like his priorities are, too.”
Farage’s spokesperson was contacted for comment. The Reform UK leader has previously defended his position, saying he is representing Clacton on the world stage and pointing out he is regularly in his constituency, where he has now bought a home.
Farage’s outside work and trips to the US do not appear to have dented support for the party, which is challenging Labour and the Tories in a three-way battle to top the opinion polls.
On Thursday, Greg Smith, a Conservative shadow minister, hinted at the idea of a pact with Farage’s party, despite the insistence of the Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, that this will not happen.
“I think if we want to get rid of socialism from this country, there may well be a point where the right-of-centre parties have to play nicely,” he told TalkTV.
The Lib Dems said Smith should be sacked for making such a suggestion.
Farage is trying to shrug off the dramatic fallout with his now former MP, Rupert Lowe, which has caused unhappiness among grassroots members. Lowe had the whip suspended after accusations that he was abusive towards the Reform chair, Zia Yusuf, which he denies.
Lowe also gave an interview to the Daily Mail in which he described Farage as “messianic” and said he should delegate more power if he is serious about winning an election.
A number of Reform branch officials have resigned as a result of the row, which has hit the party at a time when it needs maximum manpower for a byelection in Runcorn, elections in several mayoralties from Doncaster to Lincoln, and the local council elections in May.
