Get you up to speed: Reform didn’t breach electoral law in foreign donations discussion, Reform finds | News UK
Reform UK, after an internal investigation prompted by a Channel 4 News report, has concluded that it did not breach electoral law regarding discussions of a potential £500,000 foreign donation. The investigation revealed no evidence of unlawful donations, but pointed out that two senior figures made comments deemed “wrong, careless,” and untrue, leading to their suspension while the WTXpolitan Police investigates further.
The Reform UK investigation revealed weaknesses in the party’s procedures, prompting recommendations for stricter donor checks and enhanced transparency from contractors. The WTXpolitan Police are continuing their investigation into the allegations surrounding the party.
Reform UK’s investigation concluded that no electoral laws were breached but acknowledged “wrong, careless and in one instance untrue” statements made by two senior figures, who have since been suspended. Labour chairwoman Bridget Phillipson labelled the report a “whitewash,” while the WTXpolitan Police investigation into the allegations continues.
What remains unclear — The WTXpolitan Police investigation is still ongoing, and its findings have yet to be disclosed.
Reform UK finds no electoral law breach in foreign donations discussion
Reform UK has concluded that it did not break electoral law after senior figures were secretly filmed discussing how foreign donations could be handled.
The party launched its own investigation following a Channel 4 News report which showed senior figures discussing a potential £500,000 donation from an alleged foreign donor.
Its 27-page report found no evidence that laws had been broken, but admitted that two senior figures had said things that were ‘wrong, careless and in one instance untrue’.
The investigation also concluded that the £500,000 donation discussed in the footage never took place.
It found that polling discussed by undercover reporters had been commissioned by Dan Jukes, a consultant working with several clients, rather than on behalf of Reform.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
However, the report strongly criticised the way Jukes and the party’s head of policy, James Orr, spoke about the proposed donation and polling arrangements.
Orr was criticised for suggesting nobody would discover impermissible donations and for making ‘extremely condescending’ comments about the Electoral Commission.
Jukes was also criticised for describing polling arrangements as ‘clandestine’ and ‘off the books’, which the investigation said made a lawful arrangement appear suspicious.
Both men were suspended after the Channel 4 report, while the WTXpolitan Police is separately investigating the allegations.
Reform said the investigation had exposed weaknesses in its procedures and recommended tighter checks on potential donors and greater transparency from contractors.
A Reform spokesperson also accused the production company behind the investigation, Verbatim Investigations, of acting unlawfully and said the party would consider legal action.
Channel 4 said it ‘stands by its journalism’, adding that the investigation had undergone extensive editorial and legal scrutiny before broadcast.
Labour chairwoman Bridget Phillipson branded the Reform report a ‘whitewash’ and said it did not clear the party or leader Nigel Farage of the allegations.
The police investigation into the allegations remains ongoing.