The Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal investigation into allegations that Reform UK broke electoral law by accepting foreign donations, following a Channel 4 News broadcast that exposed discussions between party officials and an undercover reporter posing as a foreign donor. The inquiry is being conducted by the Met’s Special Enquiry Team and is being combined with an existing probe into other donations to the party. The police confirmed they received multiple reports after the broadcast, which aired on Thursday evening, and are seeking to obtain footage from the report for further analysis.

The allegations center on a conversation between two senior Reform UK aides, Dan Jukes and James Orr, and the undercover reporter. Jukes, the chief of staff to leader Nigel Farage, and Orr, the head of policy, reportedly discussed ways to circumvent electoral law to secure foreign funding. One proposed method involved a UK-based son of an American donor receiving a £500,000 donation, with the funds originating from the donor’s father. Another suggestion involved using foreign funds to pay for opinion polling to support Reform’s campaigns. Both Jukes and Orr have since resigned from their positions within the party, with Jukes stating he has stepped back from politics to clear his name.

The Met Police confirmed that the investigation is examining potential violations of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. The force is also liaising with the Electoral Commission and Crown Prosecution Service as the inquiry progresses. The probe includes an existing investigation into donations made to Reform UK by Fiona Cottrell, mother of Nigel Farage’s ally George Cottrell, and payments from a company controlled by Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice, which received £1m from Cottrell in June 2024.

A Reform UK spokesman stated the party denies any wrongdoing and will fully cooperate with the investigation. The party has not issued further comments, as the inquiry is ongoing. The Met Police has not provided details on the number of reports received or the specific nature of the allegations beyond the broadcast. The investigation is expected to determine whether any legal breaches occurred and whether charges should be brought.

The Channel 4 broadcast, which was also covered by Verbatim Investigations, overshadowed Reform UK’s conference in Birmingham and led to the resignation of two key figures. The undercover reporter, posing as the son of an American donor, raised concerns about his father’s ability to directly donate to the party. The report has sparked significant scrutiny of Reform UK’s fundraising practices and raised questions about compliance with UK electoral law. The party has not yet responded to the allegations beyond its initial statement.

The investigation remains ongoing, and further details are expected as the Met Police continues to gather evidence and liaise with relevant authorities. The outcome of the inquiry could have significant implications for Reform UK’s legal standing and its ability to operate within the bounds of UK electoral law. At this stage, no further information is available on the potential charges or the involvement of other parties in the investigation.