Farage denies Reform UK broke law after officials step down

Birmingham (PA Media/dpa) - The leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, has denied that his party had broken any laws or "taken any dodgy money" as two party officials stood down amid allegations the party breached political donation rules.

James Orr and Dan 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. But Farage insisted "nothing illegal" had happened.

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 ($43,960). The purported donors that appeared in the footage broadcast on Thursday night were in fact undercover reporters from investigative group Verbatim posing as an American financier and his UK-based son.

Foreign companies are not a permissible source of funding for parties in the United Kingdom, including for payments for studies and research, and accepting donations from them could constitute a criminal offence.

Farage says he's "not happy" about development

Reform announced it had launched an investigation following the broadcast. A spokesperson said: "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."

Speaking to broadcaster LBC, Farage said: "The party has broken no laws. The party has not taken any dodgy money or anything like that whatsoever. However, it is a clear case of entrapment, and they worked at it for a very, very long time, and they got a couple of our contractors to say things that perhaps should not have been said. And as a result of that, you know, they have been removed this morning. And yeah, you know, I'm not happy about it."

Farage said the polls in question were commissioned by an independent third party, rather than 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." He said the reason the two Reform aides had stepped aside was because they talked about "putting money in that might have originally have come from America. That clearly can't be done under electoral law. Now it didn't happen. It didn't happen. So no laws have been broken. And yes, they were entrapped into saying what they said."

Party chairman Lee Anderson said there was "no chance" that Orr, the party's head of policy and Jukes, a close aide to Farage, would return to the party. But Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice did not rule out the possibility, saying "let's wait and see".

A new "entente cordiale" between right-wingers in the UK and France

Starting a two-day party conference in Birmingham, Farage also announced a “new entente cordiale” with France’s right-wing National Rally party as he pledged to work together to stop small boats crossing the Channel. The deal, signed by Farage and National Rally President Jordan Bardella, commits the two parties to co-operate on returning migrants to France.

Farage referenced the early 20th century treaties between the UK and France to signify the close relations between his party and Bardella’s if both win their next national elections. France is due to hold its next presidential election in April. National Rally has led in polling since March 2025. Bardella’s predecessor, Marine le Pen, is due to be the party’s candidate for president of France. 

Addressing the event in English, Bardella said: “I make you this promise: If the French people bring us to power in 2027 in a few months, with the Rassemblement National [National Rally] and Marine le Pen, our government will do everything in its power to ensure that France is no longer the gateway for illegal migration into the United Kingdom.”

Channel crossings are already going down

France and the UK already have a $677-million deal in place, signed by Keir Starmer’s government in April, designed to stop  launches from the French coast. 

Channel crossings are down 40% compared to last year. The number of crossings this summer are at their lowest level since 2019. However,  thousands are still arriving – with larger boats being used to transport migrants over the summer.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and French President Macron discussed the issue during the latter’s visit on Thursday. A boost in the number of police officers tackling “mega-dinghies” was announced in advance.

Bardella told the Reform conference: “The destination of illegal migrants entering France should not be the United Kingdom, they should be returned to their countries of origin. (...) If we win the election, our government’s immigration policy will be simple. You do not enter France simply because you have decided to. You enter France because France has allowed you to."