Reform UK suspends two officials over foreign donation sting

Reform UK suspended two senior officials Friday after undercover footage appeared to show them discussing accepting a foreign donation, potentially breaching British electoral law. Leader Nigel Farage dismissed the conversations as "loose pub talk" and denied any wrongdoing. The suspended officials, longtime adviser Dan Jukes and policy chief James Orr, were filmed by Channel 4 discussing how a 500,000 pound donation from a purported U.S. financier could be channeled through his U.K.-based son. The "son" was an undercover reporter, and Orr allegedly discussed using the foreign donor to pay for opinion polls. The scandal overshadowed Reform's annual conference, where Farage accused "foreign-funded hard-left activists" of entrapment. The Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, and Conservatives have urged police investigation, while the Electoral Commission is reviewing the claims. Reform has faced recent funding questions, including Farage's resignation over an undeclared gift.