Met launches full criminal inquiry into Reform donations after Channel 4 sting

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 10:35 EDT, 9 September 2026 | Updated: 10:58 EDT, 9 September 2026 Police have launched a criminal inquiry into Reform UK following an undercover Channel 4 investigation into illegal foreign donations.The Metropolitan Police said it had determined there are 'potential offences requiring investigation' following the report which allegedly showed senior Reform figures discussing how to disguise donations from foreign sources. Party leader Nigel Farage and others are said to have discussed a £500,000 pledge from a US businessman through his son, who lives in the UK.Foreign political donations are banned in the UK. The donation was never made.In a statement, Scotland Yard said: 'Following a broadcast by Channel 4 News on Thursday, 3 September, the Met received a number of reports relating to donations and polling involving a political party.'Detectives have assessed the information provided and determined that there are potential offences requiring investigation.'The potential offences are similar in nature to matters already under investigation by the Met's Special Enquiry Team relating to donations made to the same political party. As a result, these matters will form part of that ongoing investigation.'The force added it was trying to obtain further footage related to the broadcast. It is understood that Verbatim, the group of investigative journalists who undertook the sting, has hours of video that did not form part of Channel 4's report. Reform UK said it will co-operate fully with the Metropolitan Police investigation, a party spokesman said. Police have launched a criminal inquiry into Reform UK following an undercover Channel 4 investigation into illegal foreign donations. Pictured: Reform leader Nigel Farage Reform last week said it was 'the target of a hoax' and denied any wrongdoing. Pictured: Undercover filming In a statement, the spokesman said: 'Reform UK denies any wrongdoing and will fully co-operate with the investigation.'We won't be commenting further while a live investigation is under way.'Last week, Channel 4 quoted lawyer Bob Posner, ex-boss of the Electoral Commission, who said 'serious criminal offences' may have been committed.Verbatim also claimed senior figures in Reform had accepted £32,500 in funding for three opinion polls commissioned by the party.They appeared in newspapers, but the investigators claim that Reform did not tell the public it had commissioned the polls or announced who funded them.Reform last week said it was 'the target of a hoax' and denied any wrongdoing.The Met's Special Enquiry Team launched an investigation in February 2025 following a referral from the Electoral Commission relating to donations made to Reform ahead of the 2024 general election, as part of which two people were interviewed under caution.No arrests have been made and no-one has been interviewed over the latest allegations. All allegations under investigation relate to potential offences under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.Officers are liaising with the Electoral Commission and Crown Prosecution Service as enquiries continue.