A senior aide to Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform UK party, was filmed suggesting a way to navigate electoral law to facilitate a significant foreign donation, according to undercover footage broadcast by Channel 4 News. The news organization stated it has verified the material obtained by a group called Verbatim Investigations.
The footage shows Dan Jukes, identified as Farage's senior aide, meeting an individual posing as the son of a wealthy American businessman. Electoral law in the UK requires political donors to be registered voters or UK-registered companies. In the scenario presented, the son would be a permissible donor, but his father would not be.
Jukes is reportedly heard suggesting that the donation could be made in the name of the UK-based son, with the funds originating from his American father. "you do realise that you can do it?" Jukes is quoted as saying, according to Channel 4. He is also reported to have claimed that this method has been used previously. "That's one of the ways in which we do it," he allegedly stated.
Reform UK has denied any wrongdoing, characterizing the incident as a "hoax perpetuated by foreign funded climate change activists." The party has launched an internal investigation into Jukes and has not confirmed if he remains a party spokesperson.
Further footage broadcast by Channel 4 reportedly shows Jukes and Nigel Farage present at a lunch with the individual posing as the son and another reporter, who posed as the son's American father. In this context, the son explains to Farage that he has been discussing the donation arrangement with Jukes and Reform UK's Head of Policy, James Orr. The son states, "I'll be the registered donor. But then dad will send the money to me, and then as soon as that's done and all those conversations are had the money is available." Farage is heard responding, "Thank you. Well, both of you. Thank you."
James Orr is also reportedly the subject of an internal Reform UK investigation. The party has not commented on Orr's current role.