Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has dismissed concerns over comments made by senior party figures regarding the acceptance of foreign donations through middlemen, characterising their behaviour as "loose pub talk."
The party has faced scrutiny following a Channel 4 investigation that filmed Farage’s chief of staff, Dan Jukes, and Reform’s head of policy, Dr James Orr, appearing to agree to a donation from a foreign benefactor via a middleman. This action could potentially breach electoral law.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr Farage stated that the comments by Jukes and Orr were "injudicious at best." Both individuals have been suspended from the party pending an investigation. Mr Farage clarified that neither Jukes nor Orr were part of the fundraising teams and that claims they made regarding existing donations, which were bleeped out, were "not true."
The Metropolitan Police have issued a statement confirming they are aware of media reports from Thursday, 3 September, concerning political party donations and an alleged breach of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 related to polling. They will assess this matter and any information provided.