Good morning. Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, is speaking on the main day of his party’s conference in Birmingham. It has been a bad summer for the party. After having a large lead over the other parties in opinion polls for over a year, the lead collapsed after Andy Burnham became PM, and now Reform UK and Labour are basically neck and neck. Farage has been embroiled in the scandal over his failure to declare a £5m donation. And last night, on the eve of Farage’s big speech, Channel 4 News broadcast the findings of a long, undercover investigation showing leading Reform UK figures apparently plotting to evade UK law on electoral donations.
Read moreYou can read the Channel 4 News write-up here. But to fully appreciate how strong the evidence against Reform UK is, it is best to watch the half-hour report in full.
Reform UK says the two senior Reform officials most implicated in the apparent plot to evade electoral law are stepping down pending an investigation. In a statement released about half an hour ago, a Reform UK spokesperson said:
double quotation markReform UK has launched an investigation following the broadcast of a Channel 4 News programme.
Both individuals involved have stepped down from their respective positions pending the outcome of the investigation.
The party believes it is important that the investigation is allowed to proceed independently and without prejudice. No further comment will be made while the investigation is ongoing.
This is a reference to James Orr, the party’s head of policy, and Dan Jukes, a senior aide to Farage.
The Labour party has written to the Metropolitan police calling for a criminal investigation. In her letter to Mark Rowley, the Met commissioner, Bridget Phillipson, the Labour party chair, says:
double quotation markWe … believe there is a proper basis for a police investigation into whether offences under PPERA [Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000] have been committed, including, but not necessarily limited to:
(a) offences under section 61(1) concerning evasion of restrictions on donations;
(b) any offence arising from knowingly providing false information to, or withholding material information from, the registered treasurer in circumstances falling within section 61(2);
(c) any offence arising from Reform UK’s acceptance or retention of impermissible donations, including the £32,500 of polling expenditure, if the evidential and reporting facts establish the necessary elements; and
(d) any related offence concerning the accuracy or completeness of statutory donation returns.
We understand that political finance matters also fall within the regulatory remit of the Electoral Commission. We are not suggesting that a police investigation should displace the commission’s role; rather, given the apparent possibility of criminal conduct, we believe the allegations should be brought formally to the attention of the police so that the appropriate authorities can determine the proper investigative route.
11.05am: The main day of Reform UK’s conference opens with tributes to Ann Widdecombe. After that the main speakers on the stage are chief whip Lee Anderson at 11.30am; Welsh leader Dan Thomas at 11.45am; home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf at noon; Jordon Bardella, president of the French National Rally party at 12.30pm: Matt Goodwin at 3pm; Sarah Pochin MP at 3.15pm; deputy leader Richard Tice at 3.30pm: and Nigel Farage at 3.50pm. There are also fringe meetings through the day.
1pm: Farage and Bardella hold a press conference.
Afternoon: Kemi Badenoch is on a visit in West Sussex.
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