Police have been urged to investigate explosive allegations that Nigel Farage and Reform UK had undeclared nationwide polls paid for by foreign donors, revealed in a year-long undercover investigation
Police have been urged to investigate explosive allegations that Reform UK knowingly accepted foreign donations to pay for polls that weren’t declared by the party.
According to a year-long undercover investigation, senior party figures allegedly arranged for an American company to fund three influential polls that the party had commissioned.
The report, by Channel 4 News and Verbatim, a group of investigative journalists, claimed the polls were then presented as being independent, making headline news and allegedly building support for the party ahead of May’s local elections.
But, it claimed the public was not informed that Reform UK had commissioned the polls and would be arranging for an “off the book” backer to fund them. The three polls were said to cost £32,500 in total.
In a meeting over oysters and wine in Clacton, Mr Farage reportedly met with the undercover team in late July after the surveys had been published and paid for.
According to the footage, Mr Farage said the polling was “amazing” and provided “bang for buck,” adding: “It worked. Boom.” Reform made significant gains in the local elections.
The discussion then allegedly turned to a potential future donation of £500,000 to Reform.
One of the undercover team – which included one posing as a rich American and his UK-based son “William Lockwood” – allegedly made clear that the plan would be for the UK-based son to make the payment and be the declared donor.
This is despite the money originally coming from the US-based father, according to the sting. Such an arrangement would be illegal.
The Liberal Democrats said it had written to the police and the Electoral Commission asking them to investigate. It’s understood Labour also intends to report the allegations to the police. The Green Party also joined calls for police to probe the claims.
Bob Posner, a lawyer and former Chief Executive of the UK Electoral Commission, called for criminal investigation as “serious criminal offences” may have been committed.
Mr Posner branded the facilitation of payments for polls by Reform figures as “shocking”, telling Channel 4: “From what I’ve seen it was commissioned by the party, it was polling for the party and hiding it means they’re hiding a donation”.
He added that it’s “against the law and the evasion of the rules, the attempt of evasion of rules, to take actions to further evasion of the rules, these are serious criminal offences”.
Labour chair Bridget Phillipson said: “This scandal goes right to the top of Reform UK. Nigel Farage needs to urgently prove today that his top team haven’t broken the law and secretly plotted to undermine our democracy.
“It’s not just Farage’s secret £5 million ‘gift’. Time and again he and his mates think the rules don’t apply to them. The sleaze and scandal now engulfing him and his Party isn’t going away – it’s getting worse.
“It’s time to stop the deflections and desperate excuses. Farage and Reform must co-operate with the authorities to establish the truth and prove just how deep this scandal goes.”
Lisa Smart, Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokesperson, said: “Farage has always behaved as though the rules apply to everyone but him. These new allegations against Reform look like the latest example, and must be dealt with swiftly by the authorities.”
A HopeNotHate spokesman said: “Reform UK have been arrogant enough to think that the law doesn’t touch them; that they can get away with it. Now more than ever the party needs to be investigated thoroughly.”
An Electoral Commission spokesman said: “The law requires political parties to report all permissible donations they accept with a value over £11,180 and all impermissible donations over £500. Information about any potential attempt to evade the controls on donations is for the police to consider.”
A Reform UK spokesman said: “Reform UK has been the target of a hoax perpetuated by foreign-funded, climate change activists posing as would-be party donors. The party denies any wrongdoing.
“Reform UK has a robust vetting process for prospective donors approved by the Electoral Commission.”