'I should have been more careful' - Chris Bryant issues grovelling apology over 'nonsense' Nigel Farage Russian state fund claim

Coutts bank used Mr Bryant’s claims as part of their justification for closing his bank account.

In July, he said: “In a previous debate on sanctions, I referred to the former leader of Ukip.

“Let me be absolutely clear: I have had no correspondence of any kind—electronic, in writing, or digital—with Coutts bank about him, or for that matter about anybody else, because I do not have many constituents who bank with Coutts.

“I have no idea why Coutts has closed his bank account, but I should have been more careful with the words that I used a year ago.

“The figure I gave was for his total income.

“I think he himself has stated that he was paid for his appearances on Russia Today, which is of course a part of the Russian state, and he has made clear his respect for Vladimir Putin as a nationalist.

“However, I do not think that the figure I gave was anywhere near the accurate figure, so I apologise if I have inadvertently misled the House.”

He added: “I had no intention of doing so, and I hope that puts the record straight.”

It comes after he claimed that Nigel received more than £500,000 from Russia Today and insisted he should be on a sanctions list as the Russia-Ukraine war began.

In March last year, he told the Commons: “I am mystified at why some people are still missing from the list, including some of the broadcasters.

“I simply point out that Nigel Farage received £548,573 from Russia Today in 2018 alone—this is from the Russian state.”

The former Ukip leader has insisted he never received any money from Russia and this was false.

He previously said: “What a nonsense, sadly said under parliamentary privilege.

“I had two small appearance fees back then, well under £5,000. Not appeared since.

“I didn’t do anything with RT in 2018.”