Key facts
- Reform UK officials were filmed discussing potentially illegal foreign donations in an undercover investigation.
- A senior aide to Nigel Farage suggested channeling funds from a US-based donor through his son.
- Nigel Farage appeared to thank the fake donors and celebrate the success of polling they funded.
- The party denies wrongdoing, calling the investigation a hoax by foreign-funded activists.
- The investigation follows previous scrutiny of Reform UK's finances, including a standards inquiry and police investigation.
Reform UK is facing renewed scrutiny following an undercover investigation by Channel 4's Verbatim unit, which captured party officials appearing to discuss ways to circumvent electoral laws on foreign donations. Footage revealed conversations involving a senior adviser to Nigel Farage, Dan Jukes, and the party's head of policy, James Orr, suggesting methods to channel funds from a US-based donor through a UK resident.
In one instance, Orr is heard saying that Farage "doesn't know, won't know" about such arrangements. Farage himself was filmed thanking individuals who posed as potential donors and celebrating the success of polling they funded. The investigation also highlighted that the polling, which benefited the party, was commissioned and paid for by a US-based individual but not publicly attributed to them or reported to the Electoral Commission.
Reform UK has dismissed the investigation as a "hoax" perpetrated by "foreign-funded, climate change activists" and denied any wrongdoing. The party also claimed the investigative group's methods had been previously rebuked. The revelations come as Reform UK prepares for its party conference and amid ongoing scrutiny of its finances, including a standards inquiry and a police investigation.
This incident reopens questions about the party's funding, particularly concerning large donations from individuals based abroad. Recent figures show Reform UK received over £5 million in donations in the second quarter, including a £4 million contribution from crypto entrepreneur Ben Delo. Another major donor, Thailand-based billionaire Christopher Harborne, has given the party £15 million and Farage £5 million personally. The UK government is introducing new legislation capping overseas donations at £100,000 annually, requiring donors to have been UK residents for at least 12 months.