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Reform Spokesman Jenrick Faces Foreign Donation Scandals
Developing
In Short: Tory defector Robert Jenrick, now Reform's economy spokesman, is under scrutiny for his 2024 leadership campaign and the party's recent undercover footage revealing discussions of foreign-funded polls.
Reform's economy spokesman Robert Jenrick is facing renewed scrutiny over foreign donation scandals, including his 2024 Conservative leadership campaign and recent undercover footage showing senior party figures discussing foreign-funded polls.
The i Paper exclusively reported that Jenrick's campaign accepted a £100,000 donation from British entrepreneur Phillip Ullmann, made through a company called Spott Fitness, which is currently under police investigation.
The footage, aired by Channel 4 News and investigative outfit Verbatim, also showed Nigel Farage and other Reform figures discussing a US company funding three opinion polls, raising questions about transparency and compliance with UK electoral laws.
In response to the allegations, two senior Reform figures, Dan Jukes and James Orr, have resigned, and complaints have been made to the police and the Electoral Commission.
Reform has denied any wrongdoing, but the scandals have prompted calls for greater transparency and adherence to UK electoral laws, which prohibit foreign donations to political parties and campaigns.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- He subsequently defected from the party and joined Reform, where he is Treasury spokesperson and would be a candidate to become chancellor if Reform was to be in government.
- The footage shows Reform aides arranging for a US company to fund three opinion polls commissioned by the party earlier in the year, at a cost of roughly £32,500 – polls that helped drive headlines ahead of May’s local elections without the public being told Reform had commissioned them, or how they were funded.
- However, there are now two separate rows over foreign money engulfing Reform figures.
Sources
- Inewslink