Undercover investigation alleges Reform UK officials discussed illegal foreign funding

Channel 4 News and the investigative group Verbatim have released undercover footage showing senior Reform UK figures discussing the use of a U.S. company to fund party-commissioned opinion polls. The recordings indicate that James Orr, the party’s head of policy, and Dan Jukes, a close aide to Nigel Farage, arranged for the foreign-based entity to pay for three polls costing a total of £32,500, without disclosing the source to the Electoral Commission.

In a meeting in Farage’s Clacton constituency, the politician praised the polls as “amazing” and said the arrangement “worked. Boom.” When the undercover team suggested a larger £500,000 donation could be made through a UK-based son of the U.S. donor, Farage responded with “thank you” and claimed the deal was “all above board.”

Electoral law requires that donations from impermissible donors, such as foreign entities, be reported within 30 days and returned if they exceed the limit. Records show the payments for the polls have not been disclosed, and the proposed larger donation was never completed.

Bob Posner, a former chief executive of the UK Electoral Commission, said the findings warrant a criminal investigation, describing the conduct as “serious criminal offences” and noting that Farage appears to have been aware of the scheme.

Reform UK declined to comment on the allegations. JL Partners, the polling firm, said it would review its procedures, while the Telegraph and the Times said they were not informed of Reform’s involvement in the commissioned polls. The British Polling Council indicated it may pursue further inquiries, and the Electoral Commission referred the matter to the police.