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Police Launch Criminal Investigation into Reform UK Donations
Confirmed
In Short: The Metropolitan Police is investigating allegations that Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, broke foreign funding laws.
The Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal investigation into allegations that Reform UK, the political party led by Nigel Farage, broke foreign funding laws, according to reports from BBC and Metro.co.uk. The investigation follows a broadcast by Channel 4 News and Verbatim Investigations, which captured Reform figures discussing how to disguise foreign donations.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson stated that the investigation is related to potential offenses under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. The police are seeking to obtain footage from the broadcast to support their investigation. Reform UK has denied any wrongdoing and pledged to cooperate fully with the probe, as reported by the London Evening Standard and Metro.co.uk.
The investigation stems from an undercover investigation by Verbatim, which spent a year speaking to Reform officials about possible donations. The footage, broadcast by Channel 4 during Reform's annual conference, allegedly showed senior figures discussing how to disguise foreign donations. Reform UK has denied these allegations, claiming they were the victims of a hoax perpetrated by climate activists, as reported by ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
In response to the allegations, the Metropolitan Police stated that there are "potential offences requiring investigation" and that detectives are liaising closely with the Electoral Commission and Crown Prosecution Service. Reform UK's spokesman emphasized that the party will fully cooperate with the investigation, adding that they will not comment further while the investigation is ongoing.
The investigation comes at a time when Reform UK has faced other allegations, including a £5 million gift to Farage, which has seen its commanding lead in opinion polls falter. Despite the denial of wrongdoing, the party's internal investigation is ongoing, as reported by the London Evening Standard and Metro.co.uk.
What's confirmed
- The Metropolitan Police is carrying out a criminal investigation into allegations Reform UK broke the law in relation to foreign funding, following a broadcast by Channel 4 News last week.
- A Met spokesperson said it had received "a number of reports relating to donations and polling involving a political party", following the broadcast of a film by Channel 4 News and Verbatim Investigations.
- A Reform UK spokesman said the party "denies any wrongdoing and will fully cooperate with the investigation".
- Scotland Yard said there are “potential offences requiring investigation” stemming from a report by Channel 4 News which allegedly showed senior Reform figures discussing how to disguise donations from foreign sources.
What's still developing
- "We won't be commenting further while a live investigation is under way." You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App.
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- Hours before widening the investigation, the police announced they were going to be investigating allegations of breached donation rules.
- It showed two senior officials in Reform — then-head of policy James Orr and Mr Farage's former right-hand man, Dan Jukes — speaking about funding with a supposed US businessman and his British-based son, including conversations about a payment for three opinion polls commissioned by the party.
- Mr Farage, under investigation by a parliamentary watchdog about earlier donations, was forced to sack the close senior aides last week after the documentary aired.
- Elsewhere, James Orr, the party's head of policy suggests that the father could pay for opinion polling to support one of Reform's campaigns.
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