Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has shrugged off concerns over comments made by senior party figures on accepting foreign donations via middle men, describing their behaviour as “loose pub talk”.
Reform has faced a gruelling 24 hours after a Channel 4 investigation filmed Farage’s chief of staff Dan Jukes and Reform’s head of policy Dr James Orr appearing to agree to a donation from a foreign benefactor through a middle man, which could be a breach of electoral law.
Speaking at a press conference, Farage said the comments by Jukes and Orr were “injudicious at best”.
The pair have been suspended from the party pending an investigation. Farage said the two were not part of the fundraising teams while claims made by them that were bleeped out regarding existing donations were “not true”.
“Whilst I’m aware that our people were pushed and sort of provoked into saying these things, the comments were injudicious at best,” Farage said.
“Neither of these members were authorised to act in that way, accordingly, they’ve stepped down pending an investigation. I emphasise again, no one’s broken any law, and we take compliance around donations very, very seriously.
He also said: “What is more problematic is loose pub talk, including a couple of boasts that simply were not true.”
Farage is also filmed in the sting operation by undercover journalists saying some payments to JL Partners for party polling represented “bang for buck”. Farage said polls were not commissioned by Reform.
Farage told a press conference that he asked the question in the video whether everything was “above board” in dealing with prospective donors. The donation discussed in the Channel 4 investigation was never made.
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The Reform leader spoke at a press conference alongside Jordan Bardella, the president of the rightwing National Rally party in France. The pair signed a pact to “stop the boats forever” if they both got elected into office. Bardella is tipped to be prime minister in France if Marie Le Pen wins a 2027 presidential election after she was told she was allowed to run for office.
Farage’s defence came hours after the party announced that two of its most senior officials stepped down over the Channel 4 news story.
Jukes and Orr were influential figures in the party, with the latter leading a fresh team set up in the last month.
A statement from a Reform spokesman said: “Reform UK has launched an investigation following the broadcast of a Channel 4 News programme.
“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.”
The latest investigation into Jukes and Orr has added to intense scrutiny over Farage’s financial dealings and the party’s donations. Farage is still facing a parliamentary investigation into the terms of a £5m donation from the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne before the 2024 election.
A spokesman said the party had not broken the law or “taken dodgy money” while the party had “nothing to do” with a poll that showed Reform beating Labour on various key issues.
Opposition party figures wrote to the Metropolitan Police to report the potential breach.
The Met Police said in a statement: “We’re aware of media reporting on Thursday, 3 September involving political party donations and an alleged breach of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 relating to polling.
“We will assess this matter and any information provided to us.”