The Metropolitan Police has launched a full criminal inquiry into Reform UK following allegations of illegal foreign donations, as revealed by an undercover investigation by Channel 4 News. The police stated that they have identified "potential offences requiring investigation" after a report emerged suggesting senior Reform figures discussed methods to disguise donations from overseas sources.
According to the report, party leader Nigel Farage and other senior figures were allegedly involved in discussions concerning a £500,000 pledge from a U.S. businessman, channeled through his son residing in the UK. In the United Kingdom, foreign political donations are prohibited.
Scotland Yard issued a statement confirming that the Metropolitan Police received multiple reports concerning donations and polling involving a political party subsequent to a Channel 4 News broadcast on Thursday, September 3. Detectives have assessed the provided information and concluded that "potential offences requiring investigation" exist.
The potential offenses are described as similar in nature to matters already under investigation by the Met's Special Enquiry Team, which pertains to donations made to the same political party. Consequently, these new allegations will be integrated into the ongoing investigation.
The police are reportedly seeking to obtain additional footage related to the broadcast. It is understood that the investigative journalism group Verbatim possesses hours of video material that was not included in Channel 4's initial report.
Reform UK has stated that it will cooperate fully with the Metropolitan Police investigation. A party spokesperson denied any wrongdoing, asserting that Reform UK is "the target of a hoax." The party has indicated it will not comment further while the investigation is active.
This inquiry builds upon a previous investigation initiated by the Met's Special Enquiry Team in February 2025. That investigation, prompted by a referral from the Electoral Commission, concerned donations made to Reform UK in the lead-up to the 2024 general election, during which two individuals were interviewed under caution. No arrests have been made in relation to either the initial or the latest allegations.
All allegations under scrutiny are related to potential breaches of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. The police are collaborating with the Electoral Commission and the Crown Prosecution Service as inquiries progress.
Beyond the donation allegations, Verbatim also claimed that senior figures within Reform UK accepted £32,500 for three opinion polls commissioned by the party. These polls reportedly appeared in newspapers, but the investigators allege that Reform UK failed to disclose to the public that it had commissioned them or who had funded them.