Bank of England governor would have put off Farage meeting had £5m gift been under investigation
Exclusive: Andrew Bailey says he does not regret meeting Reform UK leader to discuss cryptocurrency regulationThe Bank of England governor has said he would have put off a meeting
By The Guardian
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey said he would have postponed a meeting with Nigel Farage last autumn if the Reform UK leader’s £5m gift from a crypto billionaire had been under investigation at the time. Bailey confirmed he does not regret meeting Farage in September 2025 at the Bank’s Threadneedle Street headquarters in London to discuss cryptocurrency regulation and the Bank’s plans for a central bank digital currency, known as a stablecoin or “Britcoin”.
The controversial £5m donation from Thailand-based investor Christopher Harborne was revealed by the Guardian in April 2026, months after the meeting took place. Bailey stated in a letter to Labour MP Joe Powell that no policy changes resulted from Farage’s interventions, saying the Bank is “able to spot” lobbying and appropriately discount it.
The meeting also included Richard Tice, Farage’s deputy, and covered topics including debanking, freedom of speech, and the right to a bank account. Farage later told the press the discussion included cryptocurrencies, but Bailey confirmed the Bank’s stance on a digital pound remained unchanged following the consultation.