Two senior aides to Nigel Farage have stepped down from their roles pending the outcome of an internal investigation by Reform UK into allegations they breached political donation rules, a party spokesperson confirmed. The move follows an undercover report by Channel 4 News that claimed the party accepted funding from an overseas company for polling services.
Undercover report alleges breach of donation rules
James Orr, head of policy at Reform UK, and Dan Jukes, a senior aide to party leader Nigel Farage, were implicated in the allegations. According to the Channel 4 News investigation, Reform UK took funding from a US firm for three polls it commissioned earlier this year, costing £32,500 in total.
The purported donors were actually undercover reporters from the investigative group Verbatim, who posed as an American financier and his UK-based son. The undercover footage, published by Channel 4 News, shows Farage and other senior Reform members celebrating the secret foreign donations.
Party launches investigation
In response to the broadcast, 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 spokesperson added: “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.”
Impact on party leadership
The allegations centre on potential breaches of political donation rules, which prohibit UK political parties from accepting funding from overseas entities. The undercover footage, captured by Verbatim, reportedly shows senior party figures celebrating the influx of foreign cash, raising questions about the party's compliance with electoral law.
Both Orr and Jukes have stepped aside temporarily, but the party has not specified a timeline for the investigation's conclusion. The development adds to scrutiny of Reform UK's funding practices, with the party now facing an internal review that could have implications for its leadership team.
