Reform UK officials resign over alleged illegal financing scheme

Two senior Reform UK officials resigned on the eve of the party's conference following an undercover investigation by Channel 4 News into alleged illegal party financing. The report showed the party used a fake American donor to fund polling and discussed disguising a £500,000 foreign donation as a British one. The officials, James Orr and Dan Jukes, arranged for an American company to pay £32,500 for three polls before May's local elections. The company was a front set up by journalists posing as a wealthy US businessman and his UK-resident son. The polls, which boosted Reform UK's support, were presented to media without disclosing their true origin. The planned £500,000 donation was never made. Reform UK and leader Nigel Farage already face scrutiny over two undeclared donations, with a parliamentary investigation ongoing. The party gathers in Birmingham today, where Farage is expected to address around 5,000 members.