On the eve of the Reform UK party conference, an undercover investigation has surfaced alleging that party officials discussed methods to circumvent UK electoral law concerning foreign donations. The investigation, conducted by the group Verbatim and broadcast by Channel 4, involved journalists posing as a potential donor and his wealthy American father.

The report claims that the individuals involved facilitated £30,000 in polling costs, which were paid for by the foreign donor. Under current UK electoral law, political parties are prohibited from accepting donations from individuals who are not on the UK electoral roll. The investigation suggests that this polling, which was later cited in media reports, was not properly attributed to the party, potentially masking the source of the funding.

Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, is facing scrutiny following these revelations. While the investigation highlights specific conversations among party staff regarding the handling of these funds, the full extent of the party's official involvement in these specific discussions remains a subject of public debate. The Guardian reports that the findings have prompted immediate criticism of the party's internal compliance and financial transparency. As of now, the party has not provided a comprehensive rebuttal to the specific allegations regarding the polling expenditures, though the situation has cast a shadow over the party's upcoming conference proceedings.