Birmingham, 4 September (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Two senior Reform UK figures have temporarily stepped down after an undercover investigation raised Reform UK funding claims involving political polling allegedly financed by a foreign donor. The party denies wrongdoing and has launched an internal investigation.
The development came as Reform UK opened its annual party conference in Birmingham, putting leader Nigel Farage under renewed scrutiny at an important moment for the party.
According to Brussels Morining, the Channel 4 investigation alleged that senior Reform figures arranged for a US company to pay more than £30,000 for three opinion polls commissioned in connection with the party. The supposed donors were undercover investigators from Verbatim, an investigative organisation whose findings and covert footage were verified by Channel 4.
Why did the Reform UK officials step down?
Reform UK said head of policy James Orr and another senior official featured in the undercover filming had stepped down while the party investigates what happened. British political finance rules restrict parties from accepting donations from impermissible overseas sources.
Orr disputed the suggestion that the polling represented a benefit or donation to Reform. He said:
“There’s absolutely no way this could amount to a benefit or donation in kind at all.”
He maintained that the surveys were public polling arranged independently rather than internal polling commissioned by Reform UK.
The party has also strongly rejected the wider Reform UK funding claims, describing the operation as a hoax carried out by activists posing as prospective donors. Reform said it has a donor-vetting process approved by the Electoral Commission.
What could Reform UK face after the allegations?
The political consequences could extend beyond Reform’s internal inquiry. Labour has written to the Metropolitan Police asking officers to examine whether possible criminal offences occurred.
Labour’s concerns include allegations that participants discussed potentially channelling money from a US-based donor through a UK-based individual, as well as claims that similar arrangements may have been considered previously. These remain allegations and no criminal wrongdoing has been established.
The Metropolitan Police said it was aware of the allegations and would assess information provided to it. Importantly, police said this did not amount to the formal opening of an investigation.
The Electoral Commission also highlighted the legal requirements governing political donations, saying:
“Information about any potential attempt to evade the controls on donations is for the police to consider.”
What happens next for Reform UK?
The immediate next step is Reform UK’s internal investigation into the conduct shown in the undercover footage. Orr and the other official will remain away from their senior roles pending its outcome.
Police will separately assess material relating to the Reform UK funding claims, although no formal police investigation had been announced as of 4 September.
The controversy comes as Farage faces separate scrutiny from a parliamentary watchdog concerning a £5 million donation from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne in 2024. Farage denies wrongdoing in that matter.
For Reform UK, the timing is particularly significant because the allegations emerged as its Birmingham conference began, turning attention from the party’s political programme towards questions over political finance and compliance.
