Farage Faces Poll Funding Questions After Reform Aide Says Party Could 'Easily Get Away With It'

Nigel Farage is facing questions after an investigation alleged that senior Reform UK figures arranged for a US company to fund three opinion polls. In separate footage concerning another polling proposal that did not proceed, a Reform UK figure said the party could 'easily get away with it'.

In a year-long investigation, Verbatim reported that £32,500 was paid directly to JL Partners by a US company controlled by the investigative group, rather than through Reform UK's accounts. Channel 4 News said it had independently checked and verified Verbatim's findings.

According to the investigation, the payments do not appear in the published donation records. Reform UK denies any wrongdoing.

Reform UK Polls Allegedly Funded by US Company

According to the investigation, Reform UK's head of policy James Orr and senior adviser Dan Jukes discussed arranging payment for the polls through a US company. Orr and Jukes have since stepped down from their roles pending the outcome of Reform UK's internal investigation.

The undercover reporters posed as 'William Lockwood' and his American father, while the company used to make the payments was controlled by Verbatim.

The polling was subsequently reported by national newspapers, including The Times and The Telegraph. Two of the polls generated favourable publicity for Reform ahead of the May local elections, according to the findings.

James Orr Said Reform Could 'Easily Get Away With It'

In footage concerning a similar polling proposal that did not proceed, Orr acknowledged that it could be considered a donation in kind. He was recorded saying, 'Is anybody gonna find out? Am I gonna tell anyone... obviously not, so the reality is we could easily get away with it.'

Orr also made disparaging comments about the Electoral Commission. In another discussion, he indicated that Farage 'doesn't know and won't know' about certain details of the arrangement.

Jukes reportedly referred to the polling as 'clandestine projects' and discussed whether a larger payment, which was never made, could be routed through a UK-resident intermediary. Orr later said this could give the supposed foreign donor 'deniability'.

Nigel Farage Praised Polling in Undercover Meeting

Farage was filmed during a meeting in his Clacton constituency in July 2026 after the undercover reporters presented themselves as a wealthy American and his UK-based son.

During the meeting, held over oysters and wine, Farage praised the polling as 'amazing' and said it delivered 'bang for buck'.

He was also recorded saying, 'It worked. Boom.' Farage later maintained that the polls had not been commissioned by Reform UK.

The meeting took place while Farage was fighting a by-election in Clacton, which he had triggered by resigning following separate scrutiny of his finances.

Electoral Law Questions Raised Over Reform UK Funding

UK electoral rules restrict political donations from foreign sources and require qualifying donations, including certain benefits in kind, to be declared.

Bob Posner, a former chief executive of the Electoral Commission, reviewed the findings from the investigation and said serious criminal offences may have been committed. He called for a criminal investigation and said Farage had 'quite difficult questions to answer'.

The Electoral Commission said that it was considering the information and was in contact with the Metropolitan Police, adding that any potential attempt to evade donation controls was a matter for police.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said Farage should face the 'full force' of the law if he is found to have breached election rules.

Reform UK Denies Election Law Breach

Reform UK has denied wrongdoing and said had launched an internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the broadcast.

Orr has argued that no money, donation or exclusive benefit reached Reform UK because the payments went to the pollster, and he said he had taken legal advice concluding that the polling was not a donation. Farage has separately said that Reform did not commission the polls and took no illegal money.

Jukes has also denied any wrongdoing and described the operation as entrapment.

Reform has characterised some aspects of the operation as a 'hoax' involving foreign-funded activists.

The Metropolitan Police said it was assessing the allegations but had not launched a formal investigation. Farage and Reform UK continue to deny breaching electoral rules.