The little-Englanders in the Reform UK movement are holding their party conference this weekend in Birmingham. It is supposed to be a demonstration that Reform are prepared to take the reins of government, that they are serious people doing serious things in preparation for serious political accomplishments. Unfortunately, they are unserious grifters who have got themselves in a new financial scandal that broke just as the attendees were sitting down to dinner last night. Channel 4 reported on a sting operation against some leaders of Reform which has already resulted in two resignations. One expects this to take the wind (hot air) out of leader Nigel Farage’s sails.
Channel 4 broadcast a video of Dan Jukes, Farage’s long-term media chief, and James Orr, his senior policy adviser (and friend of Vice President JD Vance), talking to someone they believed was a legitimate potential donor. The donor explained that the money (half a million pounds) would actually come from his American father. The money would go from father to son to Reform. That is illegal under British law. Non-Brits cannot make a donation to a political party, and hiding the provenance of the funds is also illegal. Messrs. Jukes and Orr have resigned their positions in the party as a result.
A spokesman for Reform UK stated:
“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.”
Lee Anderson, Reform’s chairman, said, “The two people involved, they have gone. They have left the building. 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. 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.”
Of course, the base of Reform are under the impression that this is the Establishment fighting back against the great patriots who follow Nigel Farage. Addressing Reform delegates at his party conference in Birmingham, he said, “Reform has broken no law. We take compliance extremely seriously. And ask yourself, why is all of this happening? Anyone got a clue why it’s happening? Because they’re scared of us. That’s why it’s happening.”
Like the leader, the initial reaction of the party was to attack, but the sudden resignations suggest the attack would have failed rather badly. The Brits are rather grim about rules for politics, and Reform appear unaware of this.
“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.”
Mr. Farage is seen by many as a British Donald Trump, and insofar as he seems to be a con man and grifter, there is a resemblance. This is not the first scandal this summer involving contributions from questionable sources. Mr. Farage is under investigation for a £5 million donation from crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne in 2024. Mr. Farage did not report it, and he claims it was before he was an MP and that it was for his personal security. One expects he would also like to sell Tower Bridge to an unsuspecting tourist.
As awful a man as Mr. Farage is and as awful a party as Reform UK are, they are serving a very important purpose. They are splitting the right-wing vote with the Tories and Restore UK, an off-shoot of Reform that believes Mr. Farage is part of the Establishment.
There is talk of an early election, sometime in the spring. Prime Minister Andy Burnham can go to the country any time he wants, and many believe he should do it then to enhance his own democratic mandate (he was Mayor of Greater Manchester and not an MP until two months ago). It would also give the right very little time to work out any deals they might want to make. The Reform UK Conference makes it look all the more likely.