Reform UK faces local scrutiny following exposed foreign funding arrangements

Portsmouth’s political parties have reacted after Nigel Farage and senior Reform UK figures were filmed discussing alleged foreign funding in an undercover investigation.

Yesterday (September 3), Channel 4 News broadcast an undercover investigation by Verbatim which appeared to show senior Reform figures discussing arrangements for foreign funding.

An undercover reporter posed as the UK-based son of a wealthy American donor and made contact with senior party aides Dan Jukes and James Orr.

The investigation shows the aides discussing arrangements which resulted in a US company paying for three polls which benefited Reform UK.

The polls, which cost £32,500 in total, made headline news, with two of them helping galvanise support for the party ahead of the local elections in May.

The investigation culminated in a meeting between the undercover reporter, an actor posing as his American father, Dan Jukes and party leader Nigel Farage.

Over wine and oysters, the reporter, who had told Reform aides he would be a “registered donor” for a proposed £500,000 donation, said “dad will send the money to me”.

In response, Farage said: “Thank you. Well, both of you. Thank you.”

He also remarked on the polling funded through the supposed donor, adding: “It worked. Boom”.

Following the report, both Jukes and Orr have stepped down from the party pending an internal investigation.

Parties must check donors’ eligibility before accepting money under electoral law, which generally prohibits parties from accepting donations from impermissible foreign sources.

Donations must come from permissible donors, such as UK-registered companies or an individual on the electoral register under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

Speaking on LBC this morning, Mr Farage said there was “nothing illegal” about the donations, adding: “The party has broken no laws. The party has not taken any dodgy money or anything like that.”

Later, he blamed “loose pub talk”, including boasts “that simply were not true”, adding that Dan Jukes and James Orr were not “authorised to act” as they did.

In response, Councillor Simon Bosher, leader of the Portsmouth Conservative group, said: “It really isn’t a great look.

“They see themselves as of and for the people, but clearly this would suggest that some people are more equal than others.

“They really do need to start explaining themselves and where all their money is actually coming from, especially on the back of the £5m that Nigel Farage has supposedly accepted as well.

“They can’t just plough their own furrow and assume they’re going to be OK. Other parties have rules and regulations to follow, and it should be exactly the same, but they obviously seem to think that because it’s a limited company, they can do their own thing.

“They shouldn’t have fallen for it. There are always going to be investigative journalists looking for a story. If you’re squeaky clean, then you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

Cllr Charlotte Gerada, leader of the Labour group, said: “The Channel 4 investigation raises deeply serious questions about Reform UK and those at the very top of the party.

“Two senior advisers have now stood down, while the allegations have been referred to the police and are being considered by the Electoral Commission. This is far too serious to be waved away as a political attack.

“No one should prejudge the investigations, but the footage raises clear questions about whether political donation rules were followed. Nigel Farage and Reform UK should stop deflecting and give the authorities the full cooperation they need.

“Reform wants voters to trust it to run the country and our communities. But trust requires accountability. You cannot demand answers from everyone else while refusing to properly answer questions about your own conduct. The public deserves better.”

The Liberal Democrat leader of the council, Steve Pitt, said: “Foreign interference in UK domestic politics is unacceptable and the law prohibits it.

“This must now be fully investigated by the police and, if, as appears to be the case, Reform UK have broken the law, then they must feel the force of that law.”

The Portsmouth Reform UK group was approached for comment.