‘Reform donations scandal exposes vanity and incompetence that may very well be Farage’s undoing’
The scandal shows a breathtaking level of arrogance – and incompetence – from Reform not to take more care when the party’s finances are already under so much scrutiny
Nigel Farage’s conference speech was dramatically overshadowed(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Over oysters and wine, Nigel Farage exposed his greatest weakness.
The Reform leader was caught on camera seemingly celebrating a potential breach in electoral law to an undercover reporter, as part of a year-long investigation aired by Channel 4. Two top aides, Dan Jukes and James Orr, were forced to step down after allegedly arranging for an American company to fund influential polls that Reform had commissioned.
Senior Reform figures were bullish on Thursday night, with Jukes spotted at Farage’s side when he hobnobbed with journalists. But by Friday morning he was out, as Reform realised their attempts to brand the probe a hoax and a stitch up weren’t working.
Aside from the legal questions, it shows a breathtaking level of arrogance – and incompetence – not to take more care when Reform’s finances are already under so much scrutiny. But Farage’s cavalier approach to the rules – and the culture it creates within his party – will be his undoing.
He still approaches politics like he’s running a fringe pressure group, not trying to win the keys to Downing Street, despite attempts to professionalise the party.
As questions mount, he continues to claim it’s all an establishment stitch-up and the public doesn’t care.
But the problem for Farage is the public doesn’t care – until it does. Boris Johnson failed to see that over Partygate, which eventually led to his downfall.
Some voters probably don’t care right now about Farage’s £5million “gift” from crypto tycoon Christopher Harborne, or that he failed to declare it.
But everyone has heard about it and it only adds to the whiff of sleaze emanating from the party that may make voters think twice before backing them.
This conference was meant to be a reset moment for Reform, and for Farage, who spent the summer battling a man dressed as a bin in Clacton to distract from questions about his finances.
Farage wanted to land some big political stories over Reform conference, to get the public talking about their policy ideas rather than his finances. Good luck with that.
Senior Reform figures appeared tetchy, and the vibes in the conference centre are muted as the row dominates the agenda.
It also shows Reform’s honeymoon is over. The poll lead the party had enjoyed since last year has gone as Labour enjoys a Burnham bounce and the Tories see an uptick in their ratings.
Scrutiny will only get more intense – and questions about the party’s actual plans will grow. Bad timing for the party to lose Orr, their head of policy.
Jukes is also Farage’s right hand man, spinning for him as far back as 2016. His departure is seismic for Reform’s backroom operation.
Farage may survive this latest scandal but every revelation chips away at his party’s credibility and its chances at the next election.
