Reform UK conference overshadowed by suspension of senior officials amid financial scrutiny
The party’s annual gathering in Birmingham has been disrupted by the suspension of two key figures following an undercover investigation into foreign donation rules.
Reform UK’s annual conference in Birmingham has been overshadowed by the sudden suspension of two senior officials, intensifying scrutiny over the party’s financial governance. James Orr, the party’s head of policy, and Dan Jukes, a senior aide to leader Nigel Farage, were suspended on 4 September after Channel 4 News broadcast footage from an undercover investigation. The investigation, conducted by the group Verbatim, alleged that the officials were plotting to bypass electoral laws regarding foreign donations.
The suspensions arrive as the party faces a series of financial allegations that have accumulated over the past two years. These include an undisclosed £5m gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, a property purchase in Clacton by Farage’s girlfriend, and significant donations from figures with complex financial histories. The timing of the suspensions, hours before Farage’s conference speech, has placed immediate pressure on the party’s internal management.
Farage has maintained that the party has done nothing wrong, stating on LBC that no rules were broken and noting that polls are frequently funded by foreign sources. The party has launched an internal investigation into the actions of Orr and Jukes. However, the broader context of these allegations suggests a pattern of financial dealings that have drawn the attention of both parliamentary authorities and law enforcement agencies.
One of the most significant claims involves the £5m gift from Harborne, which was given shortly before Farage announced his candidacy for the 2024 general election. Farage has argued the gift was personal and non-political, citing security concerns, while Harborne’s lawyers stated he expected nothing in return. This gift is currently the subject of an inquiry by parliament’s standards commissioner.
Further complications arise from donations made by Fiona Cottrell, whose son George is a convicted fraudster and longtime aide to Farage. The Metropolitan Police are investigating £500,000 in donations from Fiona Cottrell to see if they concealed a donation by an impermissible donor. Additionally, bankers have reported potential money-laundering concerns to the National Crime Agency regarding transactions involving Harborne, Richard Tice, and the Cottrells.
The party also received a £4m donation from crypto billionaire Ben Delo in early 2026, bringing his total contribution to £8m. Delo was previously convicted in the US for failing to implement adequate anti-money-laundering controls. A new rule introduced in March 2026 requires donors to be on the UK domestic electoral register for at least 12 months to avoid a £100,000 annual cap, a regulation Reform sources say they are confident Delo meets.
