Two Reform UK officials including Farage aide step down over undercover probe into breach of political donation rules

TWO senior Reform UK officials have quit their roles following an undercover probe into a breach of political donation rules. James Orr, head of policy, and Dan Jukes, a senior aide to leader Nigel Farage, have both stepped back amid an internal investigation. James Orr has stepped down from his role as head of policy at Reform UK Credit: Alamy Dan Dukes has also quit his role in the party Credit: CH4 NEWS/VERBATIM/UNPIXS The party said it had launched a probe over allegations they breached donation rules by having polling paid for by an overseas company. Rival parties reported Reform to the police following a Channel 4 News investigation. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! An undercover report appeared to show Orr and Jukes arranging for a US firm to fund three polls earlier this year, costing £32,500. A Reform UK spokesperson said: “Reform UK has launched an investigation following the broadcast of a Channel 4 News programme. “Both individuals involved have stepped down from their respective positions pending the outcome of the investigation. “The party believes it is important that the investigation is allowed to proceed independently and without prejudice. “No further comment will be made while the investigation is ongoing.” Party chair Lee Anderson told Sky News there was “no chance” the party officials would return. Most read in The Sun Orr later released a statement confirming he was stepping down “pending the outcome” of the party’s internal probe. He vowed to “cooperate fully” with the investigation. Labour confirmed it has written to Met Police chief Mark Rowley over the donation allegations. Deputy leader Lucy Powell said: “If the Labour Party did something like this, we would have people coming down on us like a ton of bricks. “I want to see the same level of accountability, the same level of scrutiny… “… and Reform UK being held to account to the same rules that we all are expected to abide by.” Reform is tied at 23 per cent with Andy Burnham’s Labour after surrendering their 15-month lead, according to a “poll of polls”. One recent survey even had Mr Farage’s party dipping below Kemi Badenoch’s Tory party. But despite the setbacks, the Reform leader will today insist the party was “much stronger than we were last year”. Mr Farage won the Clacton by-election he himself triggered to win the judgement of his constituents over the £5million gift scandal.