Senior Reform UK Aides Step Down After Undercover Report On Donations
3 min read
Two of Nigel Farage's closest allies have stepped down pending the outcome of an internal party investigation after a report broadcast by Channel 4 alleged that the pair arranged party donations that breached UK electoral rules.
On Thursday, Verbatim and Channel 4 aired an investigation appearing to show senior officials James Orr and Dan Jukes arranging for polls commissioned by the party to be paid with money from an American company.
Over the course of a year, Verbatim used an undercover reporter to investigate whether Reform UK was using foreign donations to fund the party's activities. The reporter posed as the British-born son of a wealthy American businessman who was looking to give money to Farage's party.
The donations totalled more than £32,000. Under UK electoral law, foreign companies are not permitted to fund party activities.
Reform UK is currently holding its annual conference in Birmingham, where the party had hoped to regain some of the momentum lost over the past year. Farage is currently under investigation over an undeclared £5m gift he received before becoming an MP.
In the investigation, footage filmed across several meetings appears to show the undercover reporter discussing and agreeing the funding with both Orr, Reform's head of policy, and Jukes, a senior aide to Farage.
While Orr originally claimed that Farage would not be involved, a meeting with the party leader and the undercover reporter in Clacton this summer appeared to show the leader was aware of the transactions, apparently calling the deal "bang for buck".
On Thursday evening, a spokesperson for Reform UK said the party had been the target of a "hoax" and denied any wrongdoing.
On Friday morning, a Reform UK spokesperson said: “Reform UK has launched an investigation following the broadcast of a Channel 4 News programme.
“Both individuals involved have stepped down from their respective positions pending the outcome of the investigation.
“The party believes it is important that the investigation is allowed to proceed independently and without prejudice. No further comment will be made while the investigation is ongoing.”
Reform MP and chairman Lee Anderson has said the party has been advised by a KC that it did not break the law.
But he also told Sky News on Friday morning that there was "no chance" of Orr and Jukes returning to their positions. This was later contradicted by deputy leader Richard Tice who said the possibility of their return was yet to be determined.
Orr said: "I have agreed to step down from my current role at Reform UK pending the outcome of the party’s internal investigation into the conduct of the program, with which I will cooperate fully."
Since Verbatim and Channel 4 published the investigation on Thursday evening, Labour and the Liberal Democrats have reported the allegations to the Metropolitan police.
A spokesperson for the force said: "We're aware of media reporting on Thursday, 3 September involving political party donations and an alleged breach of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 relating to polling.
"We will assess this matter and any information provided to us."
