Met Police launches criminal probe into Reform party donations after undercover sting

THE Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal investigation into Reform UK following allegations that the party breached donation rules. A full inquiry has been launched after an undercover sting from Channel 4 appeared to show two senior figures arranging for a US firm to fund three polls earlier this year, costing £32,500. Dr James Orr, associate professor in the philosophy of religion at the University of Cambridge, and head of policy for reform Credit: Alamy Dan Dukes a close aide of Nigel Farage Credit: CH4 NEWS/VERBATIM/UNPIXS James Orr, head of policy, and Dan Jukes, a senior aide to Mr Farage, both stepped back this morning amid an internal investigation. Mr Farage insisted his party did not break any laws and denied that the party had taken cash from foreign donors. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! He added that he “wasn’t even listening” when he met with the undercover reporters disguised as an American father and son looking to give money to the party. The force has been assessing the allegations since the Channel 4 show was broadcast on Thursday. A Met spokesman said: “Following a broadcast by Channel 4 News on Thursday, September 3, 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. “All allegations under investigation relate to potential offences under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. Most read in The Sun “As part of enquiries, detectives are seeking to obtain relevant footage relating to the broadcast on Thursday, September 3. “Detectives continue to liaise closely with the Electoral Commission and Crown Prosecution Service as enquiries progress.” Mr Farage dismissed the allegations as “a little local difficulty” and described the reports as “an exercise in entrapment”. He told reporters: “The party has done nothing wrong, taken no illegal money. In fact no money was taken at all. “What is more problematic is loose pub talk, including a couple of boasts that simply were not true. “And whilst I’m aware that our people were pushed and pushed and pushed into saying these things, the comments were injudicious at best. “Neither of these members authorised to act in that way. “Accordingly, they’ve stepped down pending an investigation, and I emphasise again: Reform has broken no law. “We take compliance around donations very, very seriously.” Rival parties reported Reform to the police following the Channel 4 News investigation. Party chair Lee Anderson told Sky News there was “no chance” the Reform UK officials would return. A Reform UK Spokesman said: “Reform UK denies any wrongdoing and will fully cooperate with the investigation. We won’t be commenting further while a live investigation is underway.”