Thorn In Side Ltd: What Public Records Reveal About Nigel Farage’s Company

Overview

Thorn In Side Ltd is a private company controlled by Nigel Farage and forms a significant part of the picture when examining his finances, property interests and transparency obligations. Although the company is fully compliant with the law, its structure and use of small company exemptions mean that the public cannot see how its assets are composed, how they are used or whether Farage benefits from them personally. This gap between legal compliance and public transparency is central to understanding why the company has become a subject of scrutiny.

Last updated: 10 December 2025

1. Companies House Record: What the Official Filings Show

Thorn In Side Ltd is an active private limited company incorporated on 27 May 2011. Its filings reveal several key facts about ownership, financial structure and compliance, although the information is limited by the nature of small company reporting rules.

Incorporation and Status

Incorporated on 27 May 2011 in England and Wales
Active and up to date with all statutory filings
Registered office address listed in Leigh on Sea, Essex
Standard Industrial Classification code 74909, covering other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified

These details show a legally compliant and long standing company that has been in continuous operation for more than a decade.

Person With Significant Control

The public register confirms that:

Nigel Paul Farage is the Person with Significant Control
He holds more than 75 percent of shares or voting rights
He has the right to exercise significant influence or control

This establishes that Farage ultimately owns and controls the company and its assets.

Accounts and Financial Statements

Thorn In Side Ltd qualifies as a small company and therefore files reduced accounts that disclose only limited financial information. The most recent filings, covering the year ending 31 May 2024, show:

Bank and cash balances of approximately one point seven million pounds
Total net assets of around two point six million pounds
No detailed breakdown of assets or income
No disclosure of revenue sources, property valuations or distribution of funds to directors or shareholders

While these figures confirm that the company holds significant value, the reduced reporting format conceals the specific nature and composition of its assets.

Charges, Mortgages and Secured Debt

There are no registered charges or mortgages against the company
This means no publicly recorded borrowing is secured against company property or assets
It does not rule out borrowing or financial arrangements that do not require registration

Confirmation Statements

Annual confirmation statements show:

Farage’s control of the company has remained constant
No new shareholders have been added
No structural or ownership changes have been filed

The company’s purpose, control and filings have therefore remained stable for many years.

Limitations of the Public Record

UK law does not require small private companies to disclose:

A full asset list
Individual property valuations
Rental income or trading revenue
Whether the director or PSC personally benefits from company owned assets
Internal transfers of funds, unless they appear in top level figures

These gaps are relevant for political transparency because they prevent the public from determining whether an MP indirectly benefits from assets not declared in their personal register of interests.

2. Property Interests Held by Thorn In Side Ltd

Independent research and Land Registry checks confirm that Thorn In Side Ltd owns two residential properties in the Folkestone and Hythe district.

Key facts:

Both properties are legally owned by the company
Neither property appears in Farage’s personal Register of Members’ Financial Interests
No rental income from these properties is declared
Ownership is legally separate from Farage, although Farage controls the company that owns them

Because Farage’s beneficial use or financial benefit cannot be confirmed from public documentation alone, the Commissioner for Standards ruled that the properties are not registrable unless evidence emerges that Farage personally uses or benefits from them.

3. Relationship to Farage’s Personal Property Declarations

Farage declares:

One personal property in Folkestone and Hythe
One property in Tandridge, Surrey

When considered alongside the two properties held by Thorn In Side Ltd, this indicates that:

Farage personally declares two properties
The company he controls owns two additional properties
None of the four properties have rental income declared
Only the two personally owned properties appear in his financial register

This separation between personal and corporate ownership is legal, but it complicates efforts to understand the full scope of Farage’s property interests.

4. Beneficial Interest and Standards Commissioner Interpretation

Following concerns raised during the Clacton property controversy, Farage Exposed asked the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards whether Thorn In Side Ltd’s properties should be declared.

The Commissioner’s office responded that:

Company owned properties are not registrable unless the MP lives in, uses or personally benefits from them
Publicly available information does not demonstrate such personal benefit
Without evidence, the Commissioner cannot open an inquiry
Only a formal investigation could access documents necessary to verify beneficial interest, and no such investigation will be opened without grounds

This ruling highlights the limitations of the current system when assets are held through private companies rather than directly.

5. Financial Opacity and Public Accountability

Thorn In Side Ltd demonstrates how a legally compliant structure can obscure significant information about a public figure’s assets and potential benefits. Key issues include:

The company holds millions of pounds in assets, but the nature of those assets is undisclosed
Properties held via the company are not declared unless personal usage is proven
Reduced financial reporting means the public cannot evaluate income streams or financial benefit
The PSC structure gives Farage full control without requiring corresponding personal transparency

The company therefore sits at the centre of transparency concerns regarding Farage’s financial affairs.

Conclusion

Thorn In Side Ltd is a legally established company controlled by Nigel Farage, holding significant assets and owning property in Kent. While its filings comply with the law, the structure of small company reporting means that the public cannot determine the nature of those assets, how they are used or whether Farage derives personal benefit from them. This gap between compliance and transparency is why Thorn In Side Ltd continues to attract scrutiny.

Sources

Companies House filings for Thorn In Side Ltd
Register of Members’ Financial Interests
Correspondence with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
Farage Exposed investigations

Disclaimer

Farage Exposed is an independent, non commercial project created for public interest and informational purposes. All information on this page is based on publicly available records, including Companies House filings, Land Registry documentation and the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. No allegations of unlawful conduct are made. The existence of a company, asset or financial structure does not imply wrongdoing. Where conclusions involve interpretation of transparency rules or public disclosures, they are presented as analysis rather than fact. Readers are encouraged to consult original source documents and consider all information critically. This site has no affiliation with, and is not endorsed by, any individuals or organisations mentioned.