Nigel Farage has vowed not to be “distracted” by “a highly co-ordinated campaign of attacks” in his speech at the Reform UK conference.
In a speech repeatedly interrupted by protestors and delayed after a security alert, the party leader said: “We have been the subject of a highly co-ordinated campaign of attacks.”
He added: “But I promise you, we will not be distracted by any of this. We are absolutely determined in what we’re doing.”
Mr Farage walked through the crowd to loud music as he danced with members before he took the stage for his keynote speech.
It comes as senior Reform officials James Orr and Dan Jukes have stepped down and the party launched an investigation after a report broadcast by Channel 4 News claimed Reform took funding from a US firm for three polls it commissioned earlier this year costing £32,500.
Mr Farage claimed the allegations broadcast by Channel 4 that his party breached political donation rules have been made because “they’re scared of us”.
Read MoreReform reported to police over claims of funding rules breach in undercover sting
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Key Points
- Reform UK won’t be distracted by ‘campaign of attacks”, Farage tells conference
- Reform sources say counter terror police 'won't let Nigel on stage'
- Reform UK reported to police over claims of funding rules breach in undercover sting
- Farage says Reform has done nothing wrong
- 'We are in touch with the Met Police' - Electoral Commission statement
- Dan Jukes and James Orr step down as Reform launches investigation
Recap: Farage defends himself over allegations Reform broke laws
08:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainNigel Farage sought to defend himself over allegations Reform had broken laws on political donations as he addressed his party conference.
In a speech delayed by a “security alert” and interrupted four times by hecklers, Mr Farage vowed not to be “distracted” from his agenda by what he called a “highly co-ordinated campaign of attacks”.
The annual gathering at Birmingham’s NEC has been overshadowed by yet more allegations about party funding after Channel 4 broadcast footage that appeared to show senior Reform figures discussing how to disguise donations from foreign donors.
The footage was part of an investigation by undercover group Verbatim, who posed as an American donor and his son who had paid for polling allegedly commissioned by Reform and were seeking to channel money to Reform.
Accepting donations from a foreign company, including donations in kind such as polling, could constitute a criminal offence, and the party has been reported to the police.
Recap: Farage calls Burnham the 'Messiah without a mandate'
07:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainNigel Farage called Andy Burnham the “Messiah without a mandate”, as he predicts a General Election will take place next Spring.
The Reform UK leader blasted the Tories for their “failed” 14 years in government and highlighted that Andy Burnham “wants 10 more”.
He said his party will make changes within the first 100 days and if any of his ministers don’t meet their pledges within that timeframe, “they will be sacked”.
Recap: Reform UK claims allegations made by Channel 4 were made because 'they're scared of us'
06:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainReform UK leader Nigel Farage has claimed that the allegations broadcast by Channel 4 that his party breached political donation rules have been made because “they’re scared of us”.
Addressing Reform delegates at his party conference in Birmingham, he said: “Reform has broken no law. We take compliance extremely seriously.“And ask yourself, why is all of this happening? Anyone got a clue why it’s happening? Because they’re scared of us. That’s why it’s happening.
“And in my case, I’ve broken no laws, abused no public money. I haven’t even got a motorhome, believe you me.
“I’m accused of non-declaration of a personal gift, a personal gift that might just keep me alive.
“But I couldn’t wait forever. I couldn’t wait for six months or a year for this committee to decide. So I said, ‘Right. I tell you what, the voters of Clacton, they can be my judge.’ And the people of Clacton have decided with an emphatic win.”
Recap: Reform UK won’t be distracted by ‘campaign of attacks”, Farage tells conference
05:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainNigel Farage vowed not to be “distracted” by “a highly co-ordinated campaign of attacks”.
He told the Reform UK party conference: “We have been the subject of a highly co-ordinated campaign of attacks.
“In a sense, it’s not surprising. If you think about it, two parties have dominated British politics for over 100 years.
“And around them is a whole ecosystem of membership of the House of Lords, the issuance of government contracts, heads of quangos, and so much else, a whole ecosystem around the century-old two-party system.
“And we come along and threaten that. They were never going to come out with a tray of gin and tonics, I promise you.“But I promise you, we will not be distracted by any of this. We are absolutely determined in what we’re doing.”
Reform’s new donation scandal proves Farage’s party is completely out of control
04:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe hubris of Nigel Farage and senior figures in Reform appears to have finally caught up with them – and this time it could be fatal for their chances of winning an election.
The debacle, which played out on Channel 4 last night, saw Nigel Farage and two of his closest aides caught on video seemingly celebrating a potentially illegal foreign donation after a sting operation exposed the sheer dysfunction within Reform UK.
Putting aside any legal questions, which will now be investigated by the police, the private reaction from one close ally to what had happened was to bemoan the “sheer stupidity and arrogance” of it as well as a “complete disregard for morality and ethics”.
Reform’s new donation scandal proves Farage’s party is completely out of control
British army ‘ordered to stop non-essential training exercises to save money’
03:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe British Army has reportedly been told to stop training personnel as financial pressures put the military under strain.
Units which are in the UK and are not preparing for specific deployment were ordered to halt “collective training”, it is understood.
Training with Challenger 2 tanks and Apache gunships are among those being cancelled, according to reports in The Times.
It comes as Andy Burnham is under pressure to increase defence spending from 2.5 per cent of national income next year.
British army ‘ordered to stop non-essential training exercises to save money’
Climate Resistance behind disruption at Reform conference
02:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainActivist group Climate Resistance said they were behind the disruption, adding protesters shouted “Nigel, you’re bankrolled by billionaires” and chanted “billionaire bootlickers” as they were removed by security.
Climate Resistance activist Katherine, 35, who was among several protesters removed from the hall, said Reform UK “need to come clean about who their backers are and what interests they actually work for”.
She told the Press Association: “We wanted to draw attention to the fact that Reform is backed almost exclusively by shady parties linked to fossil fuels, other extractive industries, and essentially that there’s a complete lack of transparency about their funding.”
Asked about Mr Farage’s description of the protest as “boring”, Katherine said: “I’m sure that Nigel Farage and Reform want to paint these questions as boring, but I don’t think that most people in this country see basic questions of accountability and transparency as boring issues.
“I think they’re core to our functioning democracy.”
Farage and Le Pen’s prodigy Bardella sign pact to ‘stop small boats forever’
01:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainNigel Farage and National Rally president Jordan Bardella signed a pact at Reform UK’s party conference in Birmingham that their leader vowed would “stop small boats forever.”
The "memorandum of understanding" pledge was revealed as Mr Farage claimed a new “entente cordiale” between the UK and France would be ushered in if Reform UK and National Rally win their next national elections.
Under the agreement, both parties have committed to collaborating on sending migrants back to France.
Farage and Le Pen’s prodigy Bardella sign pact to ‘stop small boats forever’
Nigel Farage fights for survival as new Reform sleaze scandal rocks party
00:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainAn embattled Nigel Farage is fighting for his political survival as a major donations scandal completely overshadowed what Reform UK hoped would be a major comeback speech at its party conference in Birmingham.
Allegations that the party arranged illegal donations led to the resignation on Friday of Mr Farage’s chief of staff and longtime aide Dan Jukes, as well as policy director James Orr.
With the conference framed around Reform’s plans for its “first 100 days” in government, the discussion was knocked off course as Mr Farage was instead forced to answer questions on whether he could bounce back from another scandal.
Nigel Farage fights for survival as new Reform sleaze scandal rocks party
The end of Nigel Farage is nigh… again
23:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainMired in a new donations scandal, the Reform leader has become the Sisyphus of British politics, enjoying the success of pushing the rock up the mountain, only to crash again, says John Rentoul:
Ihad better be careful in pronouncing the end for Nigel Farage. I said on TV in 2014 that in five years’ time we will have forgotten who he was, as Farage himself delights in reminding me. There was no use saying I was 48 per cent right.
There is a chance that he might yet recover from this new donations scandal, that British politics will convulse again and make him look like enough of the answer to enough of the people – maybe little more than 30 per cent of them – to give him a majority in parliament at the next election.
But I really do think it is overwhelmingly likely that we are getting towards the end.
The end of Nigel Farage is nigh… again
Farage's speech disrupted by hecklers
22:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainNigel Farage’s keynote speech at the Reform UK party conference was interrupted numerous times by protesters.
Two women stood up in the conference hall at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre and held a banner reading “Reform works for billionaires”.
They were booed by audience members who shouted “out” and television footage showed a woman being carried out by security.
Mr Farage laughed during the disruption and said “We’ve got a screamer. Oh dear.”
Addressing the conference hall, the Reform leader said “that poor young girl, she looked like she was going to do herself an injury”, before adding “boring, boring, boring”.
Editorial: Andy Burnham must take his chance to bury Nigel Farage
21:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainNigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has tried to brush aside the allegation that two of his aides conspired to get around the law against foreign donations, calling the covert filming by Channel 4 reporters “entrapment”.
Mr Farage has spoken dismissively of “a couple of contractors” making an “error of judgement”, which simply will not wash. James Orr and Dan Jukes have been suspended, but are “not coming back” according to Lee Anderson, the chair of Reform.
Both were close advisers to the Reform leader. Mr Jukes in particular had been in effect Mr Farage’s press secretary and principal adviser for more than a decade, one of Mr Farage’s “lifers”.
Read more here:
Andy Burnham must take his chance to bury Nigel Farage
Watch: Farage interrupted by 'screamer' at Reform conference
21:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainLabour demands Reform’s Richard Tice investigated over alleged undeclared donation
20:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainLabour has called on Parliament's sleaze watchdog to investigate Reform UK’s Richard Tice over allegations of another unregistered donation to the party.
Labour chair Bridget Phillipson has written to Daniel Greenberg, Parliament’s commissioner for standards, to ask him to probe “a possible failure… to register a financial or material benefit within the period required” strict House of Commons rules.
In her letter Ms Phillipson points to reports that Fiona Cottrell, the mother of Nigel Farage’s close associate George Cottrell, who has been dubbed “posh George”, transferred more than £1m to Britain Means Business Ltd, a company owned and controlled by Mr Tice, after receiving $1.4 million from her son.
Labour demand Reform’s Tice investigated over alleged undeclared donation
Cambridge University probe into James Orr after Reform donations sting
20:10 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe University of Cambridge has launched a probe into associate professor James Orr after he was alleged to have breached political donation rules while working for Reform UK.
Mr Orr stepped down as Reform’s head of policy on Friday after claims he arranged to have polling paid for by an overseas company – an impermissible donor under electoral law – were revealed as part of an undercover investigation by Channel 4 and investigative group Verbatim.
A spokesperson for Cambridge University, where Mr Orr is an associate professor of Philosophy of Religion at Cambridge’s Faculty of Divinity, said: “The university is looking into these matters.”
Cambridge University probe into James Orr after Reform donations sting
Reform reported to police over claims of funding rules breach in undercover sting
19:47 , Maryam Zakir-HussainReform UK has been reported to the police over allegations it breached political donation rules by having polling paid for by an overseas company.
Nigel Farage’s party took funding from a US firm for three polls it commissioned earlier this year costing £32,500, Channel 4 News reported.
The purported donors were in fact undercover reporters from investigative group Verbatim posing as an American financier and his UK-based son, who reportedly suggested they would be prepared to donate up to £500,000 to the party.
Reform reported to police over claims of funding rules breach in undercover sting
Reform UK won’t be distracted by ‘campaign of attacks”, Farage tells conference
19:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainNigel Farage vowed not to be “distracted” by “a highly co-ordinated campaign of attacks”.
He told the Reform UK party conference: “We have been the subject of a highly co-ordinated campaign of attacks.
“In a sense, it’s not surprising. If you think about it, two parties have dominated British politics for over 100 years.
“And around them is a whole ecosystem of membership of the House of Lords, the issuance of government contracts, heads of quangos, and so much else, a whole ecosystem around the century-old two-party system.
“And we come along and threaten that. They were never going to come out with a tray of gin and tonics, I promise you.“But I promise you, we will not be distracted by any of this. We are absolutely determined in what we’re doing.”
Farage threatens get rid of the House of Lords
19:12 , Maryam Zakir-HussainNigel Farage has threatened to get rid of the House of Lords in a referendum if the upper chamber of Parliament does not pass a Reform government’s legislation.
The Reform leader made the proposal while speaking about his plans to call a “national emergency”, should his party win the next election.
Mr Farage told his party conference in Birmingham: “Parliament will sit, if necessary, for 24 hours a day, for six days a week until we pass the necessary legislation, and our policies will be explicit in our offering document to the British people.
“I expect the House of Lords to honour that, as they’ve done with the Salisbury Convention for over a century. But if they don’t, well we will present them with an idea.
“It’s not a new one, it has been used before. We’ll appoint hundreds of new peers so that we have a majority in the House of Lords.
“And if that proves difficult, we will hold a referendum on the current composition of the House of Lords, and they would be swept away by a British public appalled by them.”
Lib Dems ask Parliament's watchdog to investigate alleged donations to Reform
18:42 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe Liberal Democrats have asked Parliament’s standards watchdog to investigate allegations Nigel Farage’s aides sought to conceal impermissible donations to Reform UK.
Lisa Smart, the Lib Dems’ Cabinet Office spokeswoman, said in a letter to Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg that a report by Channel 4 News “demonstrated the lengths that close aides of Nigel Farage went to in order to facilitate an impermissible donation and to conceal it”.
She said: “Nigel Farage met personally with the undercover reporters, whom he understood to be prospective American donors, and was subsequently recorded praising the effectiveness of private polling that this funding had paid for.
“The activities, shown on camera, represent clear breaches of the law – specifically section 56 and 61 of PPERA (Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act).”
Watch: Farage interrupted by 'screamer' at Reform conference
18:27 , Maryam Zakir-HussainGreenpeace claim responsibility for banner that interrupted Tice's speech
18:05 , Maryam Zakir-HussainGreenpeace have claimed responsibility for the banner that interrupted Richard Tice’s speech at the Reform UK party conference in Birmingham.
Amy Cameron, programme director for Greenpeace UK, said: “Tice wants to celebrate this summer’s relentless heatwaves and droughts because they’re improving English sparkling wine.
“But the only thing being toasted in England is our farmland, and the only way you could miss that is if you’re paid not to notice.
“Reform disguise themselves as champions of ordinary people but they’re funded by billionaires who profit from keeping us hooked on oil and gas while the rest of us deal with the catastrophic climate consequences.
“When this summer’s searing temperatures give way to winter storms, 90% of homes in Tice’s own constituency, Boston and Skegness, will be at risk of flooding.
“We need to quit the expensive fossil fuels that are wrecking our climate. A more secure, independent energy future is within reach – we just need the politicians in the pocket of the oil and gas lobby to get out of the way.”
More pictures of protestors being removed
17:57 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Reform UK claims allegations made by Channel 4 were made because 'they're scared of us'
17:54 , Maryam Zakir-HussainReform UK leader Nigel Farage has claimed that the allegations broadcast by Channel 4 that his party breached political donation rules have been made because “they’re scared of us”.
Addressing Reform delegates at his party conference in Birmingham, he said: “Reform has broken no law. We take compliance extremely seriously.“And ask yourself, why is all of this happening? Anyone got a clue why it’s happening? Because they’re scared of us. That’s why it’s happening.
“And in my case, I’ve broken no laws, abused no public money. I haven’t even got a motorhome, believe you me.
“I’m accused of non-declaration of a personal gift, a personal gift that might just keep me alive.
“But I couldn’t wait forever. I couldn’t wait for six months or a year for this committee to decide. So I said, ‘Right. I tell you what, the voters of Clacton, they can be my judge.’ And the people of Clacton have decided with an emphatic win.”
Farage pledges to broaden Reform's expertise in defence and health
17:48 , Maryam Zakir-HussainNigel Farage has pledged to Reform UK members he will broaden the party’s expertise in defence, health and other important areas of policy.
Speaking at Reform’s party conference in Birmingham, he said: “Now we have frontline experience, now we have frontline people speaking for us in the UK: Scotland, Wales, England.
“But we’ve more to do. There are more big jobs to fill, and I’m looking and working on defence, health, and the other areas, and we will get there.“We will get there soon.”
Picture shows security removing protestor from Reform conference
17:40 , Maryam Zakir-HussainSecurity removed several hecklers from the Reform conference during Nigel Farage’s speech.
Second heckler removed during Farage's speech
17:31 , Maryam Zakir-HussainAnother heckler has been removed from the conference, as Nigel Farage again shouted: “Boring.”
He then joked he will put the “price of the tickets up next year”.
Farage calls Burnham the 'Messiah without a mandate'
17:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainNigel Farage called Andy Burnham the “Messiah without a mandate”, as he predicts a General Election will take place next Spring.
The Reform UK leader blasted the Tories for their “failed” 14 years in government and highlighted that Andy Burnham “wants 10 more”.
He said his party will make changes within the first 100 days and if any of his ministers don’t meet their pledges within that timeframe, “they will be sacked”.
'We've got a screamer'
17:26 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA person has begun shouting in the audience, as Nigel Farage immediately said: “We’ve got a screamer.”
The crowd then went on to boo and chant “Out!” as it appears the person has been removed.
Nigel Farage finally takes the stage after 'security scare'
17:23 , Maryam Zakir-HussainNigel Farage is finally allowed to take the stage, following a reported security scare.
The Reform UK leader walked on to the stage with his arms in the air, waving at the crowd as fireworks and smoked added to the drama of his entrance.
Nigel Farage is 'having a dance with members'
17:17 , Maryam Zakir-HussainNigel Farage is currently "having a dance" with party members, a senior Reform source has said, insisting that counter terror police are still barring the party leader from going on stage.
Mr Farage is currently in the crowd with the audience as loud music plays throughout the hall.
Reform sources say counter terror police 'won't let Nigel on stage'
17:10 , Maryam Zakir-HussainOur political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Nigel Farage's main stage speech has been delayed because of a security scare, party sources have suggested.
After security staff were seen searching underneath the stage, Reform sources have said "counter terror cops won't let him on stage".
Security seen searching underneath conference stage as Farage speech put on hold
16:59 , Maryam Zakir-HussainOur political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
The Reform conference has been thrown into disarray as Nigel Farage's long awaited speech - which has already been delayed by more than an hour - has been put on hold.
Security is currently searching underneath the stage, triggering speculation that the speech has been pushed back as a result of security concerns.
Journalists and party members are waiting in a dark conference room with music blasting - with no clue when the Reform leader will give his address.
Members were told that proceedings would need to be paused due to "unforeseen circumstances", but it is not yet known what those are.
Breaking: Cambridge University launches probe into James Orr after Reform donations sting
16:52 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe University of Cambridge has said it is “looking into these matters” after associate professor James Orr was alleged to have breached political donation rules.
Mr Orr stepped down as Reform UK’s head of policy after claims he arranged to have polling paid for by an overseas company – an impermissible donor under electoral law.
Responding to the report, a Cambridge University spokesperson said: “The University is looking into these matters.”
Our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin reports:
Cambridge University launches probe into James Orr after Reform donations sting
Reform conference paused due to 'unforeseen circumstances'
16:47 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe Reform UK conference has been paused due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
However the former party chairman, David Bull, suggested that Nigel Farage was still scheduled to speak shortly, just with a slight delay.
Tice: We should 'celebrate' Britain's soaring temperatures because English wine sales are up
16:45 , Maryam Zakir-HussainOur political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Richard Tice has extraordinarily said we should celebrate Britain's soaring temperatures because English wine sales are up by 20 per cent.
Despite nearly 3,000 deaths occurring as a result of the heatwaves in May and June this year, Reform's deputy leader said the public should "enjoy it".
He told Reform's conference: "I got in terrible trouble the other day because I said, 'yes it's been a little bit warm this summer. Some of us remember 1976...
"Let's enjoy it. Let's celebrate the fact that English wine sales and sparkling wine sales have increased 20 per cent this year. Great news folks! We're taking on the French."
Banner saying 'Collect £5m, burn the planet' appears behind Rice during speech
16:35 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA banner has appeared behind Richard Tice reading “Collect £5 million, burn the planet” during his speech at the Reform UK party conference.
The banner, which also depicted Nigel Farage in a top hat and carrying a bag of money, remained visible for several minutes before being taken down.
Tice pledges to bring down energy bills by £250
16:31 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRichard Tice has pledged to bring down the average annual household energy bill by £250 in the first 100 days of a Reform government.
He added the country is “overtaxed and over-regulated”.
Richard Tice takes the stage
16:24 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRichard Tice is now speaking at the Reform UK conference.
The party’s deputy leader started his speech saying he is “used to fixing things”.
GB News presenter says there is one election left to 'save the country'
16:18 , Maryam Zakir-HussainGB News presenter and former Reform UK candidate Matt Goodwin told delegates at the party’s conference that he believes there is one general election left to “save this country”.
He said millions of people feel that there is “a sense that if we don’t change the direction of this country soon, then the country we love will soon be unrecognisable”.
“I believe we only have one general election left to save this country,” he added.
Mr Goodwin added that the Tories have “completely betrayed” the British people by replacing the best and brightest in the country with “drug-dealing goat herders”.
He told delegates: “The Tories imported millions of low-wage, low-skilled, poorly educated migrants from radically different cultures outside Europe, including illiterate goat herders from Iraq, who moved to Aberystwyth, who set up a drug-dealing ring and terrorised local people by selling crack cocaine and heroin.”
He added that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are “code words for anti-white racism”.
Farage announces 'new entente cordiale' between Reform and National Rally
15:55 , Maryam Zakir-HussainNigel Farage announced a “new entente cordiale” with France’s right-wing National Rally party as he pledged to work together to stop small boats crossing the Channel.
The deal, signed by Mr Farage and National Rally president Jordan Bardella at the Reform conference on Friday, commits the two parties to co-operate on returning migrants to France.
The Reform UK leader referenced the early 20th century treaties between the UK and France to signify the close relations between his party and Mr Bardella’s if both win their next national elections.
France is due to hold its next presidential election in April. National Rally has led in polling since March last year.
Mr Bardella’s predecessor, Marine le Pen, is due to be the party’s candidate for president of France.
She previously led the National Front party.
Watch: Farage says 'someone missing' from Reform conference in tribute to Ann Widdecombe
15:45 , Dan HaygarthComment: The end of Nigel Farage is nigh… again
15:30 , Dan HaygarthMired in a new donations scandal, the Reform leader has become the Sisyphus of British politics, enjoying the success of pushing the rock up the mountain, only to crash again, says John Rentoul.
The end of Nigel Farage is nigh… again
Body of the first president of France, Napoleon III, could be repatriated to France if Farage becomes PM
15:13 , Dan HaygarthNigel Farage has indicated that the body of the first president of France, Napoleon III, could be repatriated to France if he becomes prime minister.
Napoleon III, who was president between 1848 and 1852 and then emperor until 1870, was exiled in the United Kingdom after defeat in the Franco-Prussian war.
He died in 1873 and is buried in St Michael’s Abbey in Farnborough.
Speaking at a press conference alongside French politician and National Rally president Jordan Bardella, Mr Farage hinted there could be legal difficulties, but added: “If they want him, I think they can have him.”
Farage expresses disappointment at long-term adviser Dan Jukes stepping down
14:54 , Dan HaygarthNigel Farage said he is disappointed to lose his former long-term adviser Dan Jukes amid allegations about Reform UK’s finances.
Responding to a question at a press conference at the party’s annual get-together in Birmingham, Mr Farage said: “I don’t like it at all. I’ve worked with Dan very closely for many years, many, many years, and I described it as loose pub talk, and that’s what it was, because what he said simply wasn’t true.
“He got put into a position and he should never have said what he did.
!I believe the investigation will find he should never have said one or two of the things that he said.”
Farage says he didn't give the offer of foreign donations ‘a second thought’
14:37 , Millie Cooke in BirminghamAsked about his involvement in the footage broadcast by Channel 4, which shows him thanking the undercover reporter for their donations, Mr Farage said he is “not particularly worried” about anything he said.
“I was in the middle of the by-election. I was told I had to go meet these people. I didn't have to, but I did.
“I was told they had a family trust, a global family trust headquartered in London, is what I was told. I asked - if you look at the video - I asked the question: Is this all above board? I asked the question: Has all this been legally checked?
“I'm not an expert at how family trusts work. Are you? I've no idea. Honestly, even now, I've no idea how this works.
“So look, you know, I go to a lunch. I'm in the in the middle of something. I ask the question of the people around the table: Is this legit? Is it right? I'm told it is. They say they're going to give us money. I say thank you. I basically didn't give it a second thought.”
Farage emphasises Reform has 'broken no law'
14:24 , Dan HaygarthNigel Farage told the press conference: “Reform has broken no law, and we take compliance around donations very, very seriously.
“And I think - well, I think all political parties now need to take compliance seriously, particularly as there's no choice, and we know that our donations will be looked at with more scrutiny than anybody else's. So that is really all I'm going to say on this subject.”
Farage says 'someone missing' from Reform conference in tribute to Ann Widdecombe
12:39 , Harriette BoucherAnalysis: Reform’s new donation scandal proves Farage’s party is completely out of control
11:39 , David MaddoxThe hubris of Nigel Farage and senior figures in Reform appears to have finally caught up with them – and this time it could be fatal for their chances of winning an election.
The debacle, which played out on Channel 4 last night, saw Nigel Farage and two of his closest aides caught on video seemingly celebrating a potentially illegal foreign donation after a sting operation exposed the sheer dysfunction within Reform UK.
Reform’s new donation scandal proves Farage’s party is completely out of control
Dan Jukes claims he was subject of 'entrapment'
11:00 , Dan HaygarthDan Jukes, Nigel Farage’s long-serving aide who has quit over allegations of an electoral law breach, has claimed he was the subject of “entrapment”.
Undercover footage from reporting group Verbatim aired by Channel 4 showed Mr Jukes suggesting a way to get around political donation rules to secure a £500,000 foreign donation for Reform UK.
Mr Jukes said: “This was entrapment over a prolonged period of nearly a year by foreign-funded climate change activists.
“I totally deny any wrongdoing but have stepped back from politics in order to clear my name.”
The two Nigel Farage allies forced to quit over bombshell undercover sting on Reform
10:36 , Millie CookeTwo of Nigel Farage’s key allies have been forced to quit their roles in Reform UK after a bombshell undercover sting operation sparked allegations they breached political donation rules.
James Orr and Dan Jukes stepped down from Reform and an investigation has been launched, a party spokesperson said on Friday morning, a day after the party’s conference kicked off in Birmingham.
Rival parties have reported Reform to the police over claims by Channel 4 News that Reform took funding from a US firm for three polls it commissioned earlier this year, costing £32,500.
Read more:
The two Nigel Farage allies forced to quit over bombshell undercover sting on Reform
'We are in touch with the Met Police' - Electoral Commission statement in full
10:22 , Dan HaygarthThe Electoral Commission said it was not responsible for approving Reform UK’s or any other party’s donor vetting process.
It came after Nigel Farage’s party said it had a “robust vetting process for prospective donors approved by the Electoral Commission”.
An Electoral Commission spokesperson said: “We are considering all relevant information, in line with our regulatory remit, and we are in touch with the Met Police.
“The Electoral Commission has not approved the donor vetting process for Reform, or any other party. Parties are responsible for ensuring their internal processes and controls are fit for purpose.
“We provide advice and guidance to political parties on how to comply with electoral law.
“The law requires political parties to report all permissible donations they accept with a value over £11,180 and all impermissible donations over £500.
“Information about any potential attempt to evade the controls on donations is for the police to consider.”
Electoral Commission talking to the Metropolitan Police, The Times reports
10:18 , Dan HaygarthSteven Swinford, political editor at The Times, reports that the regulator is talking to the Metropolitan Police regarding the allegations Reform is facing.
Breaking:
— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) September 4, 2026
The Electoral Commission says it is talking to the Metropolitan Police after two senior allies of Nigel Farage were filmed secretly plotting for a foreign donor to pay £32,500 for off-the-books polling on behalf of the party
An Electoral Commission spokesperson said:…
