Dan Jukes, Farage’s long-term media chief, and James Orr, his senior policy adviser, have stepped down as Reform UK launches investigation.
BIRMINGHAM, England — Nigel Farage lost two of his closest advisers after they were caught in an undercover sting investigating party financing.
The start of the main day of the Reform UK conference in Birmingham on Friday was rocked by the resignations of Dan Jukes, Farage’s long-term media chief, and James Orr, his senior policy adviser.
The pair stepped down amid an internal party investigation after Channel 4 broadcast footage apparently showing them agreeing to take donations from a foreign benefactor via a middle-man in the U.K. Experts allege taking the cash and then seeking to hide its provenance could be a breach of U.K. electoral law.
Labour Party Chair Bridget Phillipson on Friday reported the matter to the Metropolitan Police, although no investigation has been launched by the force.
A Reform UK spokesman said: “Reform 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.”
The departures mark an abrupt about-turn in Reform’s response to the Channel 4 sting. On Thursday night, the party went on the attack, claiming Jukes, Orr and Farage — who features in the footage — were “the target of a hoax perpetuated by foreign-funded, climate change activists” and denying any wrongdoing.
The footage broadcast by Channel 4 was gathered by Verbatim, an undercover reporting outfit linked to the Center for Climate Reporting.
The report showed Farage — who is due to give his main address at Reform’s Birmingham conference Friday afternoon following an appearance by French political ally Jordan Bardella — meeting undercover reporters posing as a wealthy U.S. backer and his son, and thanking the pair for their support. A U.S. citizen would not be a permissible donor under British electoral law.
Channel 4 News said the two men had at this point already funded £32,500-worth of polling commissioned by Reform, with the findings making their way into national newspapers with no declaration of the party’s involvement. This benefit in kind was not reported to watchdog the Electoral Commission.
Labour, which has been fighting to close a polling gap with Reform after a torrid two years in government, leapt on the Channel 4 report.
“We actually do have very tight rules around these things in this country for a reason, so that people have confidence in the electoral system and in our democracy,” Education Secretary Lucy Powell told Times Radio Friday morning. “But time and again, I think what we’re finding is Reform just think these rules don’t apply to them.”
Lee Anderson, Reform’s chairman, argued Friday that Farage himself has no further questions to answer on the affair, although admitted the row is a “distraction” as the party’s conference gets underway.
“The two people involved, they have gone. They have left the building,” he told Times Radio. “I keep saying this time and time again. They have gone. That is the right thing to do. They are not coming back and Nigel is going nowhere.”
He added: “Nigel is an honest man. I have known him for many years now. The party has done the right thing by launching this investigation. Nigel will be on the main stage later on explaining our first 100 days in government. He is not going anywhere.”
The stepping down of the two advisers is a significant blow to Farage. Orr is a British ally of U.S. Vice-President JD Vance and was appointed to the powerful role of head of policy just months ago. Jukes has served as a long-term media aide to Farage dating back to his days as leader of the Euroskeptic UK Independent Party.
This breaking story has been updated with additional developments. Clea Caulcutt contributed to the report.