Reform UK internal inquiry clears own advisers over donations sting

Reform UK's internal inquiry following an undercover sting has cleared two of its senior advisers of breaching the law, the party says.

The 27-page report, commissioned by the party, found that it did not breach electoral law after two of Nigel Farage's closest aides were filmed by undercover journalists discussing a £500,000 donation from a foreign donor and the funding of three opinion polls.

The two high-ranking aides, Dan Jukes and James Orr, announced they were standing down from Reform after the undercover sting by a group called Verbatim was broadcast by Channel 4 last month, which overshadowed the party's conference.

It was announced last month that the Metropolitan Police was investigating the claims, and it was being folded into another investigation already under way into other donations to the party. They have both denied any wrongdoing.

The internal inquiry, conducted by the party's barrister and its general secretary, found "no breach of electoral law by Reform UK", and claims the broadcast "conveyed a distorted version of events", but makes seven recommendations for improving the party's procedures.

Reform said in a statement the production company "acted unlawfully" and they will be "taking the appropriate legal action in due course".

The report's findings

Three opinion polls were commissioned by long-serving aide to Nigel Farage, Dan Jukes, paid for after the fact by an undercover reporter presenting himself as the UK-based son of a US businessman at the request of Mr Jukes.

The polls were published in national newspapers and celebrated as helpful to Reform UK. But the internal inquiry found that Mr Jukes "commissioned all three polls personally" and was "engaged by Reform UK as a contractor", rather than a staff member.

Clearing the party of wrongdoing, the report says: "A contractor who is also a supporter is still a contractor, and enthusiasm for a party's success does not convert work he placed on his own account into work placed on the party's behalf."

It goes on to say a search of the party's record found no documentation regarding the commissioning of these polls, and that the pollster asked Mr Jukes for payment, which Mr Orr went on to assist with, rather than the party.

The inquiry concludes: "The commissions were placed by a contractor on his own account and at his own risk, in the course of a commercial relationship with the pollster that existed independently of the party. The party incurred no liability. Nothing was supplied to the party before publication. The party's interest was in findings that anyone could read."

The inquiry also investigated allegations that Mr Orr was arranging a potential £500,000 donation from a US-based businessman, which would be a breach of electoral law prohibiting donations from foreign sources.

The inquiry found that "nothing was agreed" and "no donation was presented to the party" or accepted, and further said the position of "both sides" was that legal checks would need to take place before any money was accepted.

It also dismissed a comment that was "presented under the heading of buying a meeting" with Mr Farage, saying it was "that a prospective donor of a substantial sum would be thanked by the leader over lunch", and "not an offer of anything in return".

The recommendations

Summing up, the report said the internal inquiry found no evidence that the three polls commissioned by Mr Jukes could constitute a donation, and therefore there was nothing for the party to declare.

And with regard to the proposed £500,000 donation, the report said no money was received, nor was there an agreement to transfer any, and that "the people who spoke to the actor understood that permissibility would be determined by the party's procedures and not by them".

However, it was sharply critical of the language used by Mr Orr and Mr Jukes, saying: "It has found that people speaking for the party said things that were wrong, careless and in one instance untrue, and that they said them because they had stopped attending to the difference between what the law permitted and what merely felt discreet."

As a result, the inquiry recommends that the party should put in place a series of processes for notifying the party's Treasury in writing of prospective donations and the commissioning of polls, ensure contractors disclose other clients that may affect the party, issue guidance about dealing with donors, and conduct "basic identity verification" of prospective donations.

Reform UK said in a statement: "Following the allegations raised by Verbatim Investigations and Channel 4 on 3 September, Reform UK commissioned a comprehensive internal investigation.

"The investigation examined all relevant evidence, including witness interviews, documentary records and electronic communications. Having concluded the review, the investigation found no evidence that any laws were broken.

"Reform UK takes its obligations on governance and conduct extremely seriously.

"We consider that the production company - Verbatim - acted unlawfully and will be taking the appropriate legal action in due course."

In a statement, Mr Jukes said: "I welcome the finding of this investigation, which crucially has found I did not break the law, as I have maintained from the outset.

"I am also considering all appropriate legal remedies in relation to any false and damaging statements made about me.

"For now, I will continue to take a break from politics to pursue other opportunities."

A Channel 4 News spokesperson said: "Channel 4 News stands by its journalism. The investigation underwent extensive editorial and external legal scrutiny prior to broadcast. Given the ongoing police investigation, we will not be commenting further."

Verbatim has been contacted for comment.

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