The Guardian view on Reform’s funding scandal: Nigel Farage has questions to answer
An undercover investigation raises issues around foreign money, political transparency and the rightwing populist party’s fitness for power
TL;DR
- Two top Reform UK aides were removed after an undercover investigation by Verbatim Investigations alleged attempts to circumvent laws against foreign political donations.
- The investigation involved posing as wealthy Americans and filming meetings where party officials, including the head of policy and an aide to Nigel Farage, allegedly discussed how to channel funds through a UK intermediary.
- Reform UK allegedly commissioned £32,500 of polling, arranging for a US company to pay the bill while hiding the party's involvement, and using the results for favorable headlines.
- Nigel Farage was filmed appearing to celebrate the success of the polling arrangement and did not object when an alleged illegal donation of £500,000 was discussed.
- Reform UK claims it has broken no laws and attributes the situation to a hoax by 'foreign-funded climate change activists', while opponents have reported the party to the police and Electoral Commission.