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Reuters

British police said on Wednesday a criminal investigation into the populist Reform UK party would be widened to include allegations made in a documentary that officials planned to break electoral law on foreign funding.
Reform, led by veteran Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, denied any wrongdoing ‌and a spokesman for the party said it would “fully cooperate” with the investigation.
Farage, under investigation by a parliamentary watchdog about earlier donations, was forced to sack two of his closest aides last week, after the undercover investigation was aired.
It showed two senior officials in Reform – then head of policy James Orr and Farage’s former right-hand man, Dan Jukes – speaking about funding with a supposed US businessman and his British-based son, including ⁠conversations about a payment for three opinion polls commissioned by the party.
On Friday, Reform launched an internal investigation ‌and denied the allegations, saying the party had been the victim of a hoax. Farage described some of the comments as little more than “loose pub talk”.

London’s Metropolitan Police said in a ‌statement its detectives had assessed a number of “reports relating to donations and polling involving a political ⁠party” and had decided “there are ⁠potential offences requiring investigation”.
“The potential offences are similar in nature to matters already under investigation by the Met’s Special Enquiry Team relating to donations ‌made to the same political party. As a result, these matters will form part of that ongoing investigation.”
London’s police said in July they were investigating ‌Reform for potential ‌offences under laws governing donations to political parties, which could include concealment of the source of funding or ‌giving false information to the treasurer of a party.
The widening of the criminal investigation piles pressure on Reform, ⁠whose commanding lead in opinion polls has faltered over the funding allegations, including a £5 million (US$6.77 million) gift to Farage, focus ⁠of the parliamentary probe.
Reform’s annual conference last week, when Farage wanted to set a vision for the party’s first 100 days in power if it wins the next national election, was overshadowed by the ‌undercover probe, conducted by investigative group ‌Verbatim.
Instead of talking about a national election, which must be held by mid-2029 at the latest, Reform spent almost equal amounts of time either vigorously denying the accusations or trying to ignore them.
“We won’t be commenting further while a live investigation is under way,” the Reform spokesman said.


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Police widen criminal probe into Reform UK over foreign funding claims

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage delivers a speech during the party conference in Birmingham on Saturday. Photo: dpa

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Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage (centre), talks with Dan Jukes (centre left) as he visits the area where two men were stabbed the day before in Golders Green, north London, on April 30. Photo: AFP

Aprons featuring an image of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on sale during the party’s annual conference in Birmingham on Friday. Photo: Reuters

A £5 million note bearing the face of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on display during a protest outside parliament in London in July. Photo: EPA

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Nigel Farage lays flowers near the home of former government minister and Reform UK party member Ann Widdecombe on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

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Nigel Farage and Ann Widdecombe pose for a photocell to promote her joining Reform UK on April 24, 2019. Photo: Reuters

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Britain’s Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Photo: Reuters

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 Suella Braverman after announcing she has defected from the Conservative Party. Photo: Reuters

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Europe

The party has denied wrongdoing and says it will ‘fully cooperate’ with the police investigation


The party has denied wrongdoing and says it will ‘fully cooperate’ with the police investigation.


Reform UK party

Nigel Farage

United States

Metropolitan Police

Police widen criminal probe into Reform UK over foreign funding claims

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The party has denied wrongdoing and says it will ‘fully cooperate’ with the police investigation

The party has denied wrongdoing and says it will ‘fully cooperate’ with the police investigation