The Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal investigation into Reform UK regarding allegations it breached donation rules. The Met will carry out a full inquiry into potentially illegal foreign funding after an undercover sting was published on Channel 4 last week.
Allegations of prohibited donations
Dan Jukes, a long-serving aide of Reform leader Nigel Farage, appeared to try to solicit an impermissible £500,000 donation from an undercover journalist. James Orr, the party's head of policy, got the reporter to pay £32,500 for polling commissioned by Reform even though he appeared aware the source of the funds was a prohibited donor, the Times reported.
The Met Police did not name the party, but said in a statement: "Following a broadcast by Channel 4 News on Thursday, September 3, the Met received a number of reports relating to donations and polling involving a political party.
"Detectives have assessed the information provided and determined that there are potential offences requiring investigation. The potential offences are similar in nature to matters already under investigation by the Met's special enquiry team relating to donations made to the same political party.
"As a result, these matters will form part of that ongoing investigation. All allegations under investigation relate to potential offences under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
"As part of enquiries, detectives are seeking to obtain relevant footage relating to the broadcast on Thursday, September 3. Detectives continue to liaise closely with the Electoral Commission and Crown Prosecution Service as enquiries progress."
Reform UK response
Reform UK has said it will co-operate fully with the Met Police investigation, a party spokesman said.
The spokesman said: "Reform UK denies any wrongdoing and will fully co-operate with the investigation. We won't be commenting further while a live investigation is under way."
Following the publication of the undercover report, filmed by independent journalists from Verbatim, Mr Farage suspended Mr Orr and Mr Jukes.
Previous investigation
The Met's special enquiry team previously launched an investigation in February 2025 following a referral from the Electoral Commission relating to donations made to Reform ahead of the 2024 general election, as part of which two people were interviewed under caution.
No arrests have been made and no-one has been interviewed over the latest allegations.
