The £32,500 crisis hits Reform UK as pressure mounts on Farage against Labour

Reform UK has been engulfed by a scandal on the eve of the party’s annual conference led by Nigel Farage, following the release of an investigation conducted with hidden cameras.

James Orr, the party’s policy chief, and Dan Jukes, one of Farage’s closest aides, have left their posts after accusations that Reform UK received illegal funding from outside Britain. The issue relates to three polls, with a total value of £32,500, which, according to Channel 4 News, were paid for by an American company. British legislation prohibits the funding of political parties by foreign companies, including payments for polls or research.

The individuals who presented themselves as funders turned out to be undercover investigative journalists. In the recorded materials, James Orr discusses how the payment could be made without Nigel Farage’s knowledge, while Dan Jukes describes one of the projects as ‘off the books.’ In another meeting, Farage is seen chatting with the fake donors and assessing the results of a poll.

Reform UK has denied the violations and claims to have been targeted by a trap set by activists who posed as funders. The party has opened an internal investigation, while chairman Lee Anderson stated that the two officials are not expected to return to their posts. Meanwhile, Labour and the Liberal Democrats have called for the matter to be investigated by the police and the Electoral Commission.

The publication of the scandal comes at a sensitive time for Farage, who is trying to position Reform UK as a force ready to govern. In Birmingham, the party’s plan for the first 100 days in power is expected to be presented.