Reform Probe Into Donations Sting Branded A 'Whitewash' After Party Clears Its Own Officials

A Reform UK probe into claims the party tried to solicit illegal foreign donations has been branded a “whitewash” after it cleared its own officials of any wrongdoing.

An undercover report from Verbatim and Channel 4 claimed Nigel Farage’s close aide Dan Jukes and head of policy James Orr had discussed accepting £500,000 from a foreign donor in the summer.

The documentary, released during Reform’s annual conference last month, also claimed the party had taken funding from a US company to commission three supposedly independent polls.

UK parties are not permitted to accept gifts from a foreign donor under British electoral law.

Jukes and Orr then stepped down from their positions and were suspended from the party, though Farage dismissed the scandal as “loose pub talk”.

Metropolitan Police widened their existing investigation into Reform’s finances after the documentary aired, while the British Polling Council is also looking into the allegations.

However, Reform announced on Wednesday that its own internal investigation had found Jukes and Orr were not guilty of any wrongdoing.

The document said while the ex-officials said things “that were wrong, careless and in one instance untrue”, it claimed “neither did anything that constitutes a breach of law”.

Labour chair Bridget Phillipson slammed Reform’s internal probe as a “whitewash”.

“You can find more whitewash in this report than at your local B&Q,” she said.

“Nothing in it exonerates Reform or Nigel Farage from the serious allegations that they still face. They can’t run from the truth forever.

“Nigel Farage and Reform are not above the rules. It’s time they took responsibility for their actions, got their house in order and proved to the public they’re not just in it for themselves.

“The scandals and multiple police investigations aren’t going away. It’s time to stop the desperate deflection and cover ups, Nigel – it’s time the public knew the truth.”

A Conservative spokesperson said: “Reform will be delighted that Reform have cleared the Reform employees caught red-handed soliciting dodgy donations. Let’s see what the police say.”

Reform intends to sue the reporters behind the sting which prompted a police investigation and overshadowed its annual conference, claiming the documentary offered a “distorted version of events”.

The police are still investigating, and it’s understood the party will not decide Jukes and Orr’s futures until that has concluded.

A spokesperson for Verbatim said: “We note that this report is an internal one authored by Reform’s own barrister and general secretary, and that a police investigation remains ongoing. We are confident in our journalism, which speaks for itself.”

A Channel 4 News spokesperson said the broadcaster “stands by its journalism”, adding: “The investigation underwent extensive editorial and external legal scrutiny prior to broadcast.”

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