Ofcom Launches Inquiry Into Allegations of Sky News Harassing Nigel Farage’s Family

Ofcom declined to comment on the investigation, stating that it handles complaints confidentially and does not publicly disclose the identities of those involved.

Farage alleges that Sky News reporters went to his daughter’s residence while he was abroad.

Sky News maintains that it did not speak with his daughter and was only seeking to question Farage regarding a £5 million gift he received from cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne prior to his parliamentary debut in July 2024.

A parliamentary standards probe into whether the gift violated any rules was reopened earlier this month after Farage regained his seat as MP for Clacton in a by‑election that he instigated and that the other major parties boycotted.

After returning to the UK, Farage was confronted by Sky News about the undeclared donation, prompting him to say: “Tell your supervisors that further harassment of my family will have serious consequences—that’s what your organisation has done this morning—now leave.”

Pressed again on the donation, he retorted: “Didn’t you hear me? You’ve violated every rule, including Leveson, and that’s it—cut.”

At the time, Sky News posted on X: “Sky News was not at the property at 7:41 a.m. As previously noted, and as shown in the footage from 10:19 a.m., we were outside a residence where Mr Farage is registered to vote from the last election.

Sky News did not interact with Mr Farage’s daughter.

On a single occasion we approached the property without a camera operator, identified ourselves as Sky News, and the adult occupant declined to engage. We were attempting to contact Mr Farage to ask about the gift he received from Mr Cottrell.

This is a standard and routine journalistic practice when covering matters of legitimate public interest.

The footage clearly shows that Sky News did not ‘hound’ or pursue Mr Farage’s daughter.

At no point did we seek to speak with anyone other than Mr Farage in relation to this story.”

The BBC has reached out to Sky News for a comment.

Ofcom states that it aims to resolve fairness and privacy complaints within 90 working days.

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