British police open criminal investigation into whether Reform UK broke foreign donation rules
LONDON (AP) — British police said Wednesday that they have opened a criminal investigation into allegations that anti-immigration party Reform UK broke rules against foreign donations.
Last week, Channel 4 broadcast an undercover investigation in which two senior Reform UK officials appeared to discuss ways money from an American financier could be channeled through his U.K.-based son.
U.K. electoral law says parties can only accept donations from British voters or U.K.-registered businesses.
The Metropolitan Police said that after the broadcast, the force "received a number of reports relating to donations and polling involving a political party.
“Detectives have assessed the information provided and determined that there are potential offenses requiring investigation," it said.
The party suspended Dan Jukes, a longtime adviser to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, and chief James Orr, after the documentary was aired. But Farage denied that there was any breach of electoral law.
The program showed two men purporting to be a U.S. financier and his U.K.-based son discussing with Jukes, in the presence of Farage, how 500,000 pounds ($675,000) could be donated to the party through the son. The “son” was actually a reporter from investigative group Verbatim, and the “father” an actor.
In separate footage, Orr, a Cambridge University theologian, appeared to discuss getting the U.S. donor to pay for opinion polls commissioned by Reform UK.
Reform UK said Wednesday that it “denies any wrongdoing and will fully cooperate with the investigation.”
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