Reform UK officials step down as new funding scandal hits far-right party

Resignations come after documentary alleges party arranged for overseas company to fund polling.Two officials from Britain’s Reform UK have stepped down amid the latest in a series of funding scandals for the far-right political party.Party officials James Orr and Dan Jukes announced on Friday that they would step down, following the broadcast of an investigative television documentary. The party, which has seen support slide amid numerous reports regarding infringement of party donation rules, said it would launch a probe into the latest allegations.Recommended Stories list of 2 itemslist 1 of 2Scrutiny over Farage’s finances has ‘hurt Reform UK support’list 2 of 2UK far-right leader Farage re-elected in boycotted by-electionend of listThe undercover investigation by Channel 4 News alleged that the Reform UK officials breached political donation rules by arranging to have polling paid for by an overseas company.In the documentary, Jukes is seen suggesting to an undercover reporter how to evade electoral law to make donations to the party from abroad.Sitting at the table, Party leader Nigel Farage says all is “above board” as the reporter tells him that he has been in talks with Orr for some time.The resignation of long-term Farage aide Jukes, and Reform’s head of policy Orr, comes on the eve of the party’s annual conference.Farage – who has been dogged by questions over money received on a personal basis as well as by Reform in recent months – insisted on Friday in a radio interview that the party has “broken no laws”.However, he added, “entrapped conversations don’t look good, and that’s why we’ve [launched the party investigation]”.A spokesperson for London’s Met Police said it was “aware of media reporting … involving political party donations and an alleged breach of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 relating to polling”.