Reform UK senior figures step down after undercover poll‑funding sting

Two senior members of Reform UK have resigned after a hidden‑camera operation appeared to show them organising a foreign donor to pay for opinion polls, a move that may breach the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act.

James Orr, the party’s head of policy, and Dan Jukes, a close aide to party leader Nigel Farage, stepped down pending the outcome of an internal investigation that the party says will be conducted independently and without prejudice.

What the footage revealed

In the documentary aired on Thursday, the two officials are seen negotiating with a journalist posing as a US donor. They discuss paying for three “arms‑length” surveys with pollster JL Partners. Jukes tells the prospective backer, “If Nigel makes it to Number 10, you’re having a pint with who’s effectively gonna be his chief of staff in Number 10. If that isn’t a business interest, I don’t know what is.”

Orr warns the donor not to mention the arrangement to anyone, saying, “Nigel doesn’t know. Won’t know. It’s the kind of thing he would rather not know.” He also dismisses the elections watchdog as “completely useless”.

The party has broken no laws, not taken dodgy money or anything like that. It’s a clear case of entrapment, and they got a couple of our contractors to say things that perhaps should not have been said.

Political fallout

Opposition parties have referred the matter to the Metropolitan Police’s special enquiry team, alleging a possible serious breach of electoral law. The Liberal Democrats’ cabinet office spokeswoman Lisa Smart wrote to the police, warning of “potential serious breach of electoral law” and suggesting a broader complacency toward foreign interference.

Labour and the Green Party have also said they will report the incident. Labour’s chair Bridge Phillipson called it “a scandal that goes right to the top of Reform UK” and urged Farage to prove his team has not broken the law.

What comes next

The party has denied any wrongdoing, describing the operation as a “political sting from some net zero activists”. It has pledged not to comment further while the internal probe runs. The Metropolitan Police have confirmed they are aware of the allegations and will assess any information provided.

Should the police find evidence of a breach, Reform UK could face fines, restrictions on future funding, or even criminal charges for those involved. The episode also adds to a series of controversies surrounding the party, including a recent inquiry into a £5 million gift from a cryptocurrency billionaire.

For more context on Reform’s recent activities, see the report on the party’s Birmingham conference.