Reform UK officials step aside amid foreign donation probe
Reform UK denies wrongdoing after undercover investigation alleges foreign donor paid for polling; Labour seeks police probe.
Two senior officials in Britain's Reform UK party have temporarily stepped down after an undercover investigation alleged the party arranged for a foreign donor to pay for political polling, a potential breach of electoral law.
The party, led by Nigel Farage, denies any wrongdoing and says it was the victim of a hoax by climate activists. The allegations were broadcast by Channel 4 on the eve of Reform's annual conference in Birmingham.
The broadcaster said its investigation, conducted with an independent group called Verbatim, included covertly filmed footage of meetings. It alleged that two senior Reform figures arranged for a U.S.-based company to pay more than £30,000 for three opinion polls commissioned by the party. British law bans foreign donations to political parties.
Reform has launched an internal inquiry, and the two officials featured in the footage have stood down pending its outcome. One of them, head of policy James Orr, said in a video that the party was not involved in commissioning the poll, describing it as a public survey arranged by an independent person and published immediately.
The controversy comes at a difficult time for Farage, who is already being investigated by a parliamentary watchdog over a separate donation. The Labour Party has written to the Metropolitan Police, citing the broadcast and alleging further possible breaches, including discussion of routing a U.S. donation through a UK-based relative.
The Metropolitan Police said it was aware of the allegations and would assess any information provided. The Electoral Commission, which regulates political finance, said it is for police to consider potential attempts to evade donation controls.