Reform UK has suspended two senior officials, James Orr, the party’s head of policy, and Dan Jukes, a senior aide to leader Nigel Farage. The suspensions follow an undercover investigation conducted by a group called Verbatim, which is associated with the Centre for Climate Reporting. The footage, broadcast by Channel 4 News, allegedly shows the two men discussing ways to bypass electoral laws concerning foreign donations to political parties.

The incident occurred shortly before Nigel Farage was scheduled to deliver a speech at the party’s conference, creating a significant distraction for the organization. Reform UK confirmed the suspensions and stated that an internal investigation into the actions of both Orr and Jukes is currently underway. The report suggests the officials were involved in orchestrating a plan to circumvent legal restrictions on political funding, though the party has moved quickly to distance itself from the individuals involved by initiating formal disciplinary procedures.

While the report highlights the potential for legal scrutiny regarding how the party handles donations, the full extent of the alleged plot and the involvement of other party members remains under investigation. The party has not yet released findings from its internal review, but the immediate removal of both officials indicates the seriousness with which the leadership is treating the allegations.