Key facts
- Nigel Farage stated "I can't be bought" at the Reform party conference.
- Channel 4 News aired footage of two Reform aides allegedly discussing accepting illegal donations.
- Farage claimed the incident was a hoax and no laws were broken.
- Two individuals, James Orr and Dan Jukes, were suspended from the Reform party.
- The Reform party conference was also marked by long queues and controversial remarks from attendees.
Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, has vehemently denied allegations of impropriety regarding political donations, stating "I can't be bought" during his party's conference in Birmingham. The controversy stems from a Channel 4 News sting operation that reportedly showed two of his aides, James Orr and Dan Jukes, discussing the acceptance of illegal donations from foreign sources. Farage dismissed the report as a "hoax" and a "misunderstanding," asserting that no laws were broken and that the individuals involved had "misspoken."
Despite Farage's denials, Orr and Jukes have been suspended from the party pending an investigation. Farage attempted to distance himself from the two, referring to them as contractors who had "overstayed their welcome," even though they had been close associates. The incident overshadowed the conference's intended focus on Farage's policy agenda, including declaring a national emergency upon entering Number 10.
The conference itself was not without incident, marked by long queues of attendees and controversial statements from some participants. Speakers included Lee Anderson, who commented on the ongoing investigation, and Jordan Bardella, president of France's far-right National Rally party, who was a guest speaker.