Nigel Farage latest: Reform leader breaks silence on donation claims as party’s conference overshadowed by sting

Questioned about a lunch he took part in with undercover reporters alongside Dan Jukes in Clacton, Nigel Farage said the meeting has “nothing to do with” Reform UK.

He told LBC: “If you listen to what I said, I said, is this all above board? Is this all legal? I’ve been told it was a global family office based in London. And by the way, I was in the middle of a Clacton by-election. I turned up to see people. I knew nothing about them whatsoever. I meet people all the time.”

A report broadcast by Channel 4 News claimed Reform took funding from a US firm for three polls it commissioned earlier this year costing £32,500, leading to allegations the party breached donation rules.

But Mr Farage said the polls in question were commissioned by an independent third party.

He added: “Whilst the poll benefited Reform, it wasn’t commissioned by Reform.

“It had nothing to do with Reform. It was an independent third party that did it. So that’s nothing. That’s nothing. Polls are funded by overseas people every single week. Every single week.”

Nigel Farage said Reform has done “nothing wrong” following allegations they breached political donation rules by having polling paid for by an overseas company.

The party leader told LBC everything was “above board”, adding that there was “nothing illegal”, insisting that “no illegal transaction occurred”.

The Reform leader said the two men had to resign because they became ‘entrapped’, but said the conversations “don’t look good”.

The Clacton MP added: “There’s nothing illegal in that whatsoever… Polling can be paid for by anybody provided it is put into the public domain.”

Rival parties had reported Reform to the police over claims by Channel 4 News that Reform took funding from a US firm for three polls it commissioned earlier this year, costing £32,500.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have reported the party to the police over the allegations.

A Reform UK spokesman said: “Reform UK has launched an investigation following the broadcast of a Channel 4 News programme.

“Both individuals involved have stepped down from their respective positions pending the outcome of the investigation.

“The party believes it is important that the investigation is allowed to proceed independently and without prejudice. No further comment will be made while the investigation is ongoing.”

It comes as Reform is gathering its members in Birmingham for the party’s annual conference, with Nigel Farage set to deliver his leader’s speech.

Reform’s deputy leader has denied that the party broke any laws regarding allegations about impermissible donations.

Richard Tice told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The reality is that no money has been received whatsoever.

“We’ve got a KC’s opinion that makes clear no rules have been broken.”

He later added that “no benefit in kind was received”.

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice did not rule out Dan Jukes and James Orr returning to the party, after chair Lee Anderson told Sky News there was “no chance” of them doing so.

Mr Orr and Mr Jukes have stepped down and the party has launched an investigation following allegations they breached political donation rules by having polling paid for by an overseas company.

Rival parties had reported Reform to the police over claims by Channel 4 News that Reform took funding from a US firm for three polls it commissioned earlier this year, costing £32,500.

When asked if Mr Orr and Mr Jukes could return, Mr Tice told BBC Radio 4 “let’s wait and see what the investigation says, that will take its course”.

Education secretary Lucy Powell said the positions of two Reform UK officials who stepped down as the party launched an investigation following allegations they breached political donation rules by having polling paid for by an overseas company were “untenable”.

James Orr and Dan Jukes have stepped down from Reform, a party spokesperson said.

Rival parties had reported the party to the police over claims by Channel 4 News that Reform took funding from a US firm for three polls it commissioned earlier this year, costing £32,500.

Ms Powell told BBC Breakfast: “I think their (Mr Orr and Mr Jukes) positions were pretty untenable after the footage thatI saw involving them.

“But we (the Labour Party) have referred this matter to the police as well, because we think that from what we’ve seen in this package from Channel 4, that this is a clear breach of electoral law.”

The Manchester Central MP said it was “part of a pattern” now seen with Reform.

She added: “They’re already under investigation for a very similar allegation of electoral law breach, of somebody else giving money on behalf of somebody else to avoid that scrutiny, which is against the law.

“And Nigel Farage himself is also under investigation from the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner for accepting a donation of £5m which he didn’t declare.

“So, I think there’s a pattern of behaviour we’re seeing with Reform UK really thinking that these rules just don’t apply to them.”

James Orr and Dan Jukes have stepped down from their roles in Reform UK pending the outcome of an investigation by the party into a broadcast by Channel 4 News alleging they breached political donation rules, the party said.

A Reform UK spokesman said: “Reform UK has launched an investigation following the broadcast of a Channel 4 News programme.

“Both individuals involved have stepped down from their respective positions pending the outcome of the investigation.

“The party believes it is important that the investigation is allowed to proceed independently and without prejudice. No further comment will be made while the investigation is ongoing.”