British police have widened a criminal investigation into allegations that Nigel Farage’s hard-right Reform UK party accepted illegal donations following new claims last week.
The announcement increases pressure on Farage, who has endured months of intense scrutiny over Reform’s financial arrangements which has coincided with the party losing its lead in opinion polls.
Farage and his hard-right, anti-immigration party deny any impropriety.
The move by London’s Metropolitan Police follows undercover footage aired by Channel 4 News last Thursday that showed Reform figures discussing steps to secure a foreign donation, which is banned under UK electoral law.
The sting prompted two senior party officials – policy head James Orr and Farage’s longtime aide Dan Jukes – to resign and overshadowed the party’s annual conference in Birmingham.
The Met has previously confirmed that it launched an investigation last year into financial gifts made to Reform before the 2024 general election.
On Wednesday, it said the fresh claims in the sting – carried out by undercover reporters for investigative journalism group Verbatim – would now be probed as part of that investigation.
“Detectives have assessed the information provided and determined that there are potential offences requiring investigation,” a spokesperson said, adding that they pertain to potential violations of electoral law.
British law states that permissible donations to a UK political party must be made by UK-registered voters, or a company registered in the UK.
The spokesperson added that “no arrests have been made, and no one has been interviewed under caution, in relation to the latest allegations”.
A spokesman for Reform said in a statement sent to AFP: “Reform UK denies any wrongdoing and will fully co-operate with the investigation. We won’t be commenting further while a live investigation is underway.”
The Met launched its investigation in February 2025 following a referral from the Electoral Commission, which oversees elections in Britain.
Parliament’s corruption watchdog is investigating a £5 million ($11.6m) gift from British cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne to Farage, who insists the money was for his security.
Farage is also facing scrutiny over alleged financial support provided by a convicted fraudster, George Cottrell.
Reform’s dip in opinion polls has coincided with a bounce for the ruling centre-left Labour Party since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister in July.
- AFP