Metropolitan Police Launch Criminal Investigation Into Reform UK Donations

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed the launch of a criminal investigation into Reform UK following allegations that the party breached electoral laws regarding foreign funding, as detailed in reports from BBC News. The police action follows a broadcast by Metro featuring an undercover sting operation by LBC and Yahoo News, which captured senior party figures discussing ways around regulations governing political donations.

Metropolitan Police Launch Criminal Investigation Into Reform UK Donations

According to the Metropolitan Police, the force received a number of reports relating to donations and polling involving the political party following the broadcast on Thursday, September 3. Detectives assessed the information and determined there were potential offences under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. These new matters are being folded into an ongoing inquiry already being conducted by the Met’s Special Enquiry Team concerning other donations made to Reform UK.

Undercover Sting and Allegations of Foreign Funding

The investigation stems from an undercover operation conducted by investigative group Verbatim, whose reporters posed as an American financier and his son. The broadcast revealed that Reform UK allegedly took funding from a US firm for three commissioned polls earlier in the year, totaling £32,500. Under electoral law, foreign companies are not a permissible source of funding for political parties, which includes payments for studies and research.

Furthermore, footage captured senior party figures, including Nigel Farage’s chief of staff and longtime aide Dan Jukes, discussing a proposal for the American donor to give £500,000 to the party through his UK-based son. While the political donation was ultimately never made, electoral law experts noted that accepting money from a foreign father to be funneled through an eligible UK resident son could constitute a breach of section 61 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act.

Nigel Farage was present during a lunch with the purported donors and Dan Jukes in his constituency. Regarding his presence, Farage stated that he was in the middle of canvassing in the Clacton by-election and frankly was not listening to the conversation.

Political Fallout and Resignations

The controversy overshadowed Reform UK’s conference in Birmingham. The fallout led to the immediate resignation on Friday of two key figures: Dan Jukes, chief of staff to Nigel Farage, and James Orr, head of policy.

Metropolitan Police Launch Criminal Investigation Into Reform UK Donations — Photo: metro.co.uk

Over the weekend, the Metropolitan Police confirmed they were considering formal complaints lodged by Labour and the Liberal Democrats over the video footage. No arrests have been made, and no one has been interviewed under caution in relation to the latest allegations. Detectives are currently seeking to obtain relevant footage of the broadcast and are liaising closely with the Electoral Commission and the Crown Prosecution Service as enquiries progress.

Party Response and Broader Scrutiny

Reform UK has firmly rejected any accusations of unlawful behavior. In an official statement, a party spokesman said: Reform UK denies any wrongdoing and will fully cooperate with the investigation. We won’t be commenting further while a live investigation is under way.