Reform UK Hit by Funding Row as Two Senior Officials Step Down Over Alleged Donation Law Breach

Reform UK is facing fresh scrutiny over its finances after two senior party officials stepped down following an undercover investigation into alleged attempts to bypass UK political donation rules.

Nigel Farage’s senior aide Dan Jukes and the party’s head of policy, James Orr, have both left their roles while Reform conducts an internal investigation into the allegations. The controversy follows a Channel 4 News investigation in which undercover reporters posed as potential donors and recorded conversations with senior Reform figures.

The investigation centres on funding for political polling. According to the report, a US-based company paid about £32,500 for three polls commissioned for Reform UK earlier this year. Two of the polls were published ahead of the May local elections and were presented as independent polling, without publicly indicating that Reform had commissioned them.

The undercover footage also raised questions about a much larger proposed donation. Jukes was recorded discussing a possible way for a wealthy American to provide £500,000 to Reform through his UK-based son, potentially avoiding restrictions on foreign political donations. James Orr was also filmed discussing arrangements involving polling funded by the supposed donor. The allegations remain subject to investigation, and there has been no finding that Reform unlawfully received the proposed £500,000.

UK electoral law places strict controls on political donations. Political parties can only accept donations from permissible sources, which include individuals registered on a UK electoral register and certain UK-based organisations and companies. Parties must also take reasonable steps to establish the identity of a donor and confirm that the source is permissible before accepting donations above the relevant threshold.

Reform UK has denied wrongdoing and described the operation as a “hoax” carried out by climate-change activists posing as prospective donors. The party has maintained that it has proper procedures for vetting donations and insists that no illegal money was accepted. Farage has also defended the party, saying Reform had not broken the law and that no illegal transaction took place.

The allegations have nevertheless triggered demands for further scrutiny. Rival political parties have referred the claims to the police, while the Electoral Commission is also facing pressure to examine whether political finance rules were breached. The issue comes as Reform UK gathers in Birmingham for its annual conference, where Farage is scheduled to address party members.

The controversy adds to existing questions surrounding Reform UK’s finances and could place further pressure on Farage as the party attempts to present itself as a serious political force.