Nigel Farage latest: Reform leader breaks silence on donation claims as party’s conference overshadowed by sting

The Electoral Commission said it was not responsible for approving Reform UK’s or any other party’s donor vetting process.

It came after Nigel Farage’s party said it had a “robust vetting process for prospective donors approved by the Electoral Commission”.

An Electoral Commission spokesperson said: “We are considering all relevant information, in line with our regulatory remit, and we are in touch with the Met Police.

“The Electoral Commission has not approved the donor vetting process for Reform, or any other party. Parties are responsible for ensuring their internal processes and controls are fit for purpose.

“We provide advice and guidance to political parties on how to comply with electoral law.

“The law requires political parties to report all permissible donations they accept with a value over £11,180 and all impermissible donations over £500.

“Information about any potential attempt to evade the controls on donations is for the police to consider.”

Steven Swinford, political editor at The Times, reports that the regulator is talking to the Metropolitan Police regarding the allegations Reform is facing.

Asked about Labour and the Lib Dems reporting Reform UK to the police over the donations, Nigel Farage accused other political parties of “selling peerages” for donations.

He told LBC: “The Labour Party and the Conservative Party have been selling peerages for years in return for political donations. Political donations leading to big government contracts.

“In the world of political funding, all sorts of things have been done over decades that are wrong. We as a party have done nothing wrong. A couple of our contractors have said things that shouldn’t have been said.

“Labour can say what they like, of course they can, and they will and they do.

“But no, I promise you, the polling is not even an issue. Nothing. The party has not done anything wrong, but entrapped conversations don’t look good, and that’s why we’ve taken the action we have.”

Questioned about a lunch he took part in with undercover reporters alongside Dan Jukes in Clacton, Nigel Farage said the meeting has “nothing to do with” Reform UK.

He told LBC: “If you listen to what I said, I said, is this all above board? Is this all legal? I’ve been told it was a global family office based in London. And by the way, I was in the middle of a Clacton by-election. I turned up to see people. I knew nothing about them whatsoever. I meet people all the time.”

A report broadcast by Channel 4 News claimed Reform took funding from a US firm for three polls it commissioned earlier this year costing £32,500, leading to allegations the party breached donation rules.

But Mr Farage said the polls in question were commissioned by an independent third party.

He added: “Whilst the poll benefited Reform, it wasn’t commissioned by Reform.

“It had nothing to do with Reform. It was an independent third party that did it. So that’s nothing. That’s nothing. Polls are funded by overseas people every single week. Every single week.”

Nigel Farage said Reform has done “nothing wrong” following allegations they breached political donation rules by having polling paid for by an overseas company.

The party leader told LBC everything was “above board”, adding that there was “nothing illegal”, insisting that “no illegal transaction occurred”.

The Reform leader said the two men had to resign because they became ‘entrapped’, but said the conversations “don’t look good”.

The Clacton MP added: “There’s nothing illegal in that whatsoever… Polling can be paid for by anybody provided it is put into the public domain.”

Rival parties had reported Reform to the police over claims by Channel 4 News that Reform took funding from a US firm for three polls it commissioned earlier this year, costing £32,500.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have reported the party to the police over the allegations.

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.”

It comes as Reform is gathering its members in Birmingham for the party’s annual conference, with Nigel Farage set to deliver his leader’s speech.

Reform’s deputy leader has denied that the party broke any laws regarding allegations about impermissible donations.

Richard Tice told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The reality is that no money has been received whatsoever.

“We’ve got a KC’s opinion that makes clear no rules have been broken.”

He later added that “no benefit in kind was received”.