The Guardian view on Reform’s funding scandal: Nigel Farage has questions to answer | Editorial

An undercover investigation has exposed serious concerns about foreign funding, political transparency, and the suitability of Reform UK's leader, Nigel Farage, to hold political office. Reform UK's conference opened recently, presenting the party as a viable option for government, yet it is now under police investigation, has removed two top aides, and faces scrutiny of its financial dealings.

Seven out of ten voters polled view Farage as sleazy, twice the proportion that holds the same opinion of Labour leader Andy Burnham. Reform claims its mission is to wrest power from a corrupt establishment, but these revelations raise questions about the party's stance on the influence of foreign money - or simply who stands to benefit from it.

The investigation, conducted by Verbatim Investigations, involved pretending to be a wealthy American father and his UK-based son seeking to donate to Reform UK. While foreign donations are prohibited in the UK, Verbatim's team alleges that such contributions were overlooked in the party's meetings with James Orr, a Cambridge-based ethics specialist, and Reform UK's head of policy.

Dan Jukes, a close aide to Nigel Farage, was also part of these interactions. Both Orr and Jukes have been removed from their positions following the investigation.