Farage says overseas donation row ‘looks bad’ but denies Reform breached electoral law
Robert Jenrick says party has followed legal protocol ‘at all times’ as Met police consider launching investigation Nigel Farage has acknowledged the overseas donation row engulfing Reform UK “looks bad” for his party but denied it had ever taken foreign money in breach of electoral law. The Reform leader, who is battling to contain the fallout from the allegations, was asked to categorically…
Robert Jenrick maintains that Reform UK followed legal protocol "at all times" as the Metropolitan police assess evidence of potential electoral law breaches regarding the party's overseas donations. Nigel Farage, the party leader, acknowledged the row over foreign donations "looks bad" for his party but denied any violation of electoral law.
Farage was forced to suspend aides Dan Jukes and James Orr after undercover investigation footage surfaced, allegedly showing them attempting to circumvent foreign donation laws. The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg interview saw Farage describe the aides' comments as "injudicious at best" and admit the filming's optics were problematic for his party.
Farage stressed that Reform UK isn't the first party to face a donation controversy. Scotland Yard is reviewing the allegations, potentially expanding an existing investigation into possible foreign donations channeled through intermediaries. Farage's £5m crypto donation, made shortly before announcing his 2024 general election candidacy, has also come under scrutiny.
Reform UK's Treasury spokesperson, Robert Jenrick, stated that legal advice indicated the party did not break electoral law over foreign donations, though lessons would be learned. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds criticized Reform UK, questioning their commitment to running for power while allegedly profiting from foreign cash.
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