Reform UK accepts £10,000 from millionaire accused of sexual harassment
Reform UK has accepted £10,000 from a hedge fund supervisor who’s beneath investigation for alleged sexual misconduct.
The donation was made final August by Crispin Odey, whose firm Odey Asset Management has introduced that it’s going to shut after 13 ladies accused him of sexual harassment or abuse.
The allegations have been revealed in June, two months earlier than Reform accepted the donation. An extra six ladies got here ahead with related claims in July. Odey denies the allegations. The Financial Conduct Authority is investigating whether or not he’s a “fit and proper” individual to work in monetary companies in mild of the claims.
The donation, which was uncovered by DeSmog, was initially declared by Reform UK to the Electoral Commission as having been given by Independent Investment Management Initiative (IIMI). The group of asset managers is at present chaired by Sebastian Stewart, a accomplice at Somerset Capital Management, the funding agency co-founded by Jacob Rees-Mogg in 2007.
The IIMI has since denied any involvement within the donation. The entry was solely modified on the Electoral Commission web site following enquiries by DeSmog and the Mirror.
Odey and his hedge fund donated £870,000 to Brexit marketing campaign teams. He’s beforehand given cash to the Conservatives together with handing £10,000 to Boris Johnson’s management marketing campaign in 2019. On the night time of the Brexit vote he made £220million betting the pound would fall in worth.
An Electoral Commission spokesman mentioned: “We published the donation details on our register as originally reported to us by the party. The entry was amended on our database when the party informed us that it had provided inaccurate donor information. We will consider the inaccurate reporting in line with our Enforcement Policy.”
An IIMI spokesman mentioned: “The IIMI has never made a donation to Reform UK. This has been confirmed unequivocally by Reform UK. The IIMI is a not-for-profit organisation, has never made any political donations, nor does it intend to do so. The IIMI has worked with thousands of individuals at member firms since its establishment in 2010. These individuals are entitled to make personal donations to any causes as they wish.”
Reform UK, which was beforehand generally known as the Brexit Party, was based by Nigel Farage who stays Honorary President. Its chief is now Richard Tice.
Reform UK and Odey have been contacted for remark.
