Two senior Reform UK officials have resigned this Friday amidst a growing scandal concerning Reform UK funding practices. Fresh allegations of irregular financial arrangements emerged just as the party’s annual conference began in Birmingham. Police have now confirmed they are reviewing the complaints.
James Orr, the party’s Head of Policy, and Dan Jukes, a senior advisor to leader Nigel Farage, stepped down from their roles. Their resignations followed referrals to the police by both the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties.
A recent undercover investigation by Verbatim Investigations, aired on Channel 4, sparked these new accusations. The report revealed Mr. Jukes allegedly proposing a scheme for Reform UK to receive a £500,000 donation from a foreign businessman. Such a transaction would breach British electoral laws.
An actor reportedly posed as the American businessman, while a reporter acted as his son, a UK resident. The son was intended to funnel the donation, though the actual funds were never transferred. Mr. Orr had earlier suggested the supposed businessman finance polls for Reform UK as an in-kind donation, potentially bypassing scrutiny.
Channel 4 also reported that Reform UK commissioned three polls totaling £32,500. These survey results later appeared in national media. However, the party did not publicly disclose who ordered or financed them. Mr. Farage subsequently met with the undercover journalists. He affirmed the arrangement was legitimate and expressed gratitude for the “support” after the “son” explained the deal.
Today, the Reform UK leader firmly stated the party had not “broken any law.” He further denied accepting “dodgy money” in connection with these claims.
These new allegations add to other ongoing investigations into Reform UK’s finances. Mr. Farage himself faces a probe by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. This relates to a £5 million gift he received in 2024 from crypto entrepreneur Christopher Harborne, which he initially failed to declare.
Moreover, police are also examining two £250,000 donations made in the same year. Fiona Cottrell, mother of George Cottrell, provided these funds. George Cottrell, a former advisor to Farage, was previously convicted of financial crimes in the United States.
The accusations surfaced ahead of Mr. Farage’s keynote speech at the party’s annual conference in Birmingham. French far-right leader Jordan Bardella is also attending the event, which runs until Saturday. The conference itself has faced controversy, furthermore. Several journalists, including those from The Guardian and the BBC, reported being denied accreditation to cover the gathering.
