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Nigel Farage is to conclude Reform UK’s conference amid a political donations controversy. The party leader defended himself over allegations Reform UK broke laws during his speech, following new footage showing senior figures discussing how to hide foreign donations. Channel 4 broadcast footage suggesting Reform officials discussed disguising donations from foreign sources, which could be a criminal offence.
Reform has been reported to the police, and the Liberal Democrats have asked Parliament’s standards watchdog to investigate. Dan Jukes, a longtime aide, and James Orr, the party’s policy head, have resigned pending an internal inquiry into their involvement in the footage. Farage, already under scrutiny for £5 million in donations from a wealthy backer, dismissed Jukes’s comments as 'loose pub talk' and vowed not to be distracted by attacks.
He accused opponents of a coordinated campaign targeting Reform, claiming they fear the party’s rise. Before his speech, Deputy Leader Richard Tice’s address was interrupted by a Greenpeace banner reading 'Collect £5 million, burn the planet.' Farage’s own speech was disrupted four times by protesters heckling over climate change. On Saturday, other Reform figures will speak, including Treasury Spokesman Robert Jenrick on cutting benefits and taxes, and Education Spokeswoman Suella Braverman on plans to reduce student loans for 'Mickey Mouse degrees' and lift medical school place caps.
Source: The Independent
