Reform UK has been accused of producing a ‘whitewash’ internal investigation into allegations senior party figures tried to disguise foreign donations
Reform UK’s internal investigation into allegations party figures tried to disguise foreign donations has been slammed as a “whitewash”.
According to its own probe, Nigel Farage’s party did not break electoral law but senior figures had “said things that were wrong, careless and in one instance untrue”.
Labour said the investigation – which was carried out by Reform’s party secretary and a Reform barrister – contained “more whitewash” than at your local B&Q.
The scandal overshadowed Reform’s annual conference in September after Scotland Yard said it was assessing reports that party figures sought to evade electoral law over donations. The police’s separate investigation is ongoing.
Long-standing aide Dan Jukes and policy chief James Orr were forced to step down following the undercover sting by Channel 4 News and undercover group Verbatim. Footage appeared to show Mr Jukes and Mr Orr seek to orchestrate funds from journalists posing as a wealthy American and his UK-based son.
This included £32,500 for polls that made the front pages news, which Reform had allegedly commissioned. There was also allegedly a discussion of whether the US businessman could give £500,000 through a UK intermediary, which is against the law.
But on Wednesday, a 27-page report concluded the proposed £500,000 donation from a foreign source discussed in Channel 4’s report “did not take place” and Reform had not commissioned polls paid for by undercover reporters.
Reform’s investigation said it had found “no evidence” that either man had done anything to facilitate an illegal donation. It also said Mr Jukes, described as a “consultant” who “also worked with other clients”, had commissioned the polls on his own account and not on behalf of the party.
But it strongly criticised the way they had spoken to the undercover reporters about both the proposed £500,000 donation and arrangements with pollster JL Partners, which carried out the polls discussed in the Channel 4 report.
The investigation said Mr Orr had been “wrong” to suggest that nobody would find out about impermissible donations and use “extremely condescending terms” to describe the Electoral Commission.
It also criticised Mr Jukes’ description of polling arrangements as “clandestine” or “off the books”, saying this was “the reason a lawful arrangement could be presented as a plot”. And it said he had said something he “did not know to be true” when he claimed that the party had received money from foreign donors via their children.
Labour chair Bridget Phillipson said: “You can find more whitewash in this report than at your local B&Q. 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 Reform UK spokesperson said: “Following the allegations raised by Verbatim Investigations and Channel 4 on September 3, Reform UK commissioned a comprehensive internal investigation.
“The investigation examined all relevant evidence, including witness interviews, documentary records and electronic communications. Having concluded the review, the investigation found no evidence that any laws were broken. Reform UK takes its obligations on governance and conduct extremely seriously. We consider that the production company – Verbatim – acted unlawfully and will be taking the appropriate legal action in due course.”
A Channel 4 spokesperson said: “Channel 4 News stands by its journalism. The investigation underwent extensive editorial and external legal scrutiny prior to broadcast. Given the ongoing police investigation, we will not be commenting further.”