Arabic version: حزب ريفورم يو كيه يعلّق مهام مسؤولين بعد تقرير عن تبرعات

According to The Guardian, Reform UK has suspended James Orr, its head of policy, and Dan Jukes, a senior aide to Nigel Farage, following an undercover investigation broadcast by Channel 4 News. The party said it had launched an investigation and that both men had stepped down from their positions pending its outcome.

The footage, recorded by investigative journalists from Verbatim, appeared to show Orr and Jukes discussing arrangements that could bypass electoral rules on foreign donations. Journalists posed as a potential Reform supporter and his wealthy American father, who was described as an impermissible donor.

The investigation focused on £30,000 of polling commissioned by Reform that later appeared in national newspapers. If the polling were judged a donation in kind from abroad, it would be impermissible and should have been registered with the Electoral Commission, the report said. Farage was filmed meeting the fake US donor in Clacton and appeared to praise the poll’s results.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have reported Reform’s actions to police over a possible breach of electoral law. The Electoral Commission said it was considering all relevant information and was in contact with the Metropolitan police, adding that possible attempts to evade donation controls were a matter for police.

Reform initially called the investigation a hoax, while Farage said on LBC that the party had done nothing wrong. Lee Anderson said the two officials had gone and would not return, but deputy leader Richard Tice did not rule out a return after the inquiry. Tice said the party had legal advice from a KC that no rules had been broken.