Politics · Reform UKTwo Reform UK Officials Out After Foreign Donations StingAired September 5, 2026 at 6:32 PM UTCWritten September 5, 2026 at 7:55 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:00Reform UK's head of policy and Farage's senior aide are out over a foreign donation0:04sting.0:05The party's leader was at the lunch where the scheme was allegedly discussed, and0:09the allegations could amount to breaking electoral law.0:11The question now: will police turn this into a formal investigation, and could it0:15reach Farage personally?0:17The resignations came after an undercover investigation was broadcast on the evening0:21of September 3rd.0:22The next morning, Reform UK's chairman announced on television that James Orr and0:27Dan Jukes would not return, and a full internal investigation begins today.0:31The conference was just beginning, and the announcements landed on its first day.0:37The footage captured two men discussing ways to move money into the party that would0:41skirt the political parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, which bars foreign0:46individuals and companies from donating to UK parties.0:49Two methods were discussed.0:50The first route treated the polling as a benefit in kind.0:53The second used a UK citizen as a front.0:56Under the law, funding that helps a party meet a cost, including polling, can count1:00as a donation.1:02An impermissible donation over five hundred pounds must be reported and returned1:06within thirty days.1:07The polling payments were not reported to the Electoral Commission, and the findings1:11ran in national newspapers without disclosing who paid.1:14Nigel Farage was present at the lunch where the scheme was discussed.1:17He was filmed praising the polling as amazing, saying it worked.1:21Boom, and it's all above board.1:23Confronted afterward, he said he frankly wasn't even listening, called the aides'1:27comments injudicious and loose pub talk, and insisted the party took no illegal1:31money.1:32Later, he dismissed the conversation as loose pub talk, but the party's opponents1:36are not convinced.1:38The party chairman told T V there was no chance the two would return, and Nigel is1:42going nowhere.1:43Anderson has ruled out their return and stood by the leader1:49Labor and the Liberal Democrats reported the allegations to the Metropolitan Police.1:53As of September 5th, the Met said it was assessing the material and had not opened a1:57formal investigation.1:59The Electoral Commission said it was considering all relevant information and was in2:02touch with the Met, but noted that information about any potential attempt to evade2:06donation controls is for the police to consider.2:09For now, the Met is assessing, the Electoral Commission is considering, and reform2:13maintains its denial.2:14Both men deny wrongdoing.2:16Jukes called the operation entrapment by foreign-funded climate change activists.2:21Orr said he would cooperate with the party's investigation.2:25The outcome now hinges on whether the Met turns its assessment into a formal2:28investigation and whether the Electoral Commission's remit reaches the polling2:32payments.2:33With the conference still running, the leadership has given no indication the two2:37will face anything beyond the internal inquiry.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗