Two Reform officials step down after undercover donations report

A Channel 4 documentary captured a lunch meeting in Clacton, Essex, featuring a reporter impersonating a UK‑born young man and an actor portraying his purported American father, with opposition leaders Nick Jukes and David Farage standing opposite them.

Farage responded, stating, “It’s all above board,” after his son disclosed multiple discussions with Jukes and Reform’s policy chief, James Orr.

“I’ll be the registered donor,” the son replied. “But once the funds arrive — after all the negotiations are settled — the money will be sent to me.”

“Thank you, sir. I appreciate both of your help,” Farage declared.

Relevant electoral legislation specifies that an individual may only donate to a United Kingdom political party if they are themselves a UK‑registered voter or an established UK company.

In this scenario, the son qualifies as a permissible contributor, while his father does not.

The footage, created for Channel 4, shows that Reform chief policy analyst James Orr suggested his father might fund opinion polls to assist the Party’s campaign.

Orr added that the polls would cost £18,000 plus VAT and hinted that the results could be delivered straight to the reporter.

Channel 4 reported that the Party commissioned three separate polls amounting to £32,500 in total, yet did not disclose who arranged or financed them.

Failure to disclose such contributions would violate election law; similarly, accepting undisclosed foreign funding would also breach regulatory requirements.

“Information about any potential attempt to evade the controls on donations is for the police to consider.”

Chairman Lee Anderson asserted on Friday morning that Reform had no intention of reinstating Jukes and Orr to the organisation.

However, Deputy Leader Richard Tice contested this claim, remarking during the *BBC Radio 4* “Today” programme that deciding such matters prematurely “in the nicest possible way” is not advisable while an investigation proceeds.

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